We decided to roll several reviews into one. These will be shorter and in a different format from our normal reviews. All of the following Whiskey’s Or Whisky’s are more or less on the very cheap end of the price spectrum, and generally not to our liking. By cheap, we mean around $10 for the 750ml and some times in the low teens for the 1.75ml. We decided to review them anyways because they are well known names, some of which you will probably recognize, and are pretty popular.
We are not against inexpensive spirits, those who follow our blog know that we are fans of JTS Brown, and Heaven Hill Old Style. Both go for just over $10. For a few dollars more there is Rebel Yell and Evan Williams.
Most of these are not Bourbons. That means they can have additives and don’t have to follow any of the Bourbon rules.
BEAM 8 STAR
Neither of us had ever tried this, even in our misspent youth. The bottle says it is 80% neutral grain spirit and 20% 2 year old Whiskey. So essentially a flavored vodka. 8 Star is 80 proof and widely available.
8 star has a nose of paint/lacquer. Very very sweet taste, sickeningly sweet, probably because of additives. No finish. It is so sweet you could probably mix with a diet Coke and have it taste like the regular cola.
CALVERT EXTRA
The front label says “100% Blended American Whiskey”, that sounds a lot better than saying it is 70% neutral spirits mixed with 30% Whiskey. CE is bottled at 80 proof and pretty easy to find.
We both got slight whiffs of Rye but not much else on the nose. Reminded us in some ways of a Canadian Whisky. The taste was not much different, a little Rye but not much else. Not a real pleasant drink.
CANADIAN MIST
A blended Canadian Whisky that has no age statement.
Strange nose of ethanol, sweetness and a rotten caramel like smell. Not good. Very sweet taste, too much so with a terrible taste of varnish. No finish. We both threw this out, couldn’t even finish 3/4 of an oz.
EARLY TIMES
Early Times has a somewhat strange slogan, ” For a Taste worth the Wait”. We say strange because we would be surprised if it has been aged for more than a year. It is 80 proof and found just about everywhere.
We both had to strain just to get a nose of plastic, musty medicine and a slight cooked vegetable smell. The taste was surprisingly hot considering it is only 80 proof. Flat with no character that reminded us of drinking vodka with a tablespoon of sugar. No finish to speak of, if possible maybe even more sweetness.
J W DANT
J W Dant is by far the best of the super cheap. A Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which means it is at least 4 years old and it is 100 proof so you are getting less water and more bang for your buck. Plus, J W takes us back to our youth and some found memories.
A decent nose with a touch of caramel. Very hot and somewhat rough on the tongue with a bit of the caramel we got on the nose. With some effort we got a little bit of a fruit taste. Not much finish, just a little sweetness, definitely better with some water.
KESSLER
Kessler says it is an American Blended Whiskey, which sounds like a blend of different Whiskies. No, it is 72.5% neutral grain spirit, again think vodka, with 27.5% Whiskey. Bottled at 80 proof and sold almost everywhere. We will put to the test their motto “Smooth as Silk”.
The aroma was not as terrible as expected, getting a little grain, alcohol and a slight medicinal smell. Not much flavor , maybe a little grain and definitely some sweetness. It is smooth but hell, so is water. No real finish except a little more sweetness. Not the greatest stuff but it beats the Canadian cheap stuff.
SEAGRAM’S 7 CROWN
Seagram’s 7 Crown American Whiskey, most of us probably remember ordering a “7 & 7” sometime in our lives. It seemed cool to order that drink, and as our memories serve, wasn’t all that bad. How will it taste without the 7 Up?
Seagram’s 7 is bottled at 80 proof and sells for around $13 for the 750ml, making it a little more expensive than the others on this list.
Decent nose, though nothing extraordinary. A little caramel, maybe a little vanilla and a slight bit of cocoa. Fairly smooth neat with some of the tastes we got on the nose along with a hint of Rye. Finish was short to medium with not much going on. All and all, not a bad drink. Probably best used as a mixer with a soda, 7 Up anyone?
WINDSOR CANADIAN
A blended Canadian Whisky that is 3 years old and bottled at 80 proof. Like Seagram’s, Windsor sells for a couple of dollars more than the others.
A nose of paint, varnish and some Rye. Sounds strange but is smells Canadian. A “flat” taste of the same things we got on the nose with a little bitterness thrown in. Medium to short finish with no character. Use as a mixer only.