Anyone who’s spent time in a liquor store knows that top-shelf bourbon can cost you. The best cask-finished bourbon on Wine Enthusiast’s list of the Top 100 Spirits of 2023, for example, will set you back nearly $150. The list’s top Kentucky whiskey—the oldest expression currently available from Maker’s Mark—costs about the same. In fact, a good number of the best bourbons of 2023 are, in addition to being top-scoring, quite pricey. But not all of them. A good number clock in under the $50 mark, including a bottled-in-bond bourbon with vanilla and stone fruit aromas; a five-year-old Kentucky bourbon with notes of caramel and toasted nuts; and the last bourbon ever produced at Kentucky’s legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery. Bourbon needn’t be ludicrously priced to turn heads, it seems. This is clear in other bottles Wine Enthusiast has sampled over the years (but that still drink excellently), from a cask-strength bourbon made from an ancient wheat strain to a double-oak bourbon with notes of coconut, praline and brown sugar. You May Also Like: 10 Bottles That Prove Some of the Best Bourbon Isn’t From Kentucky “I do think $50 and below is a good price point for bourbons,” says Writer-at-Large Kara Newman, Wine Enthusiast’s resident spirits reviewer. “Lots of good stuff going on with this list—there’s a diversity of techniques, like unique finishings and creative mash bills (four-grain bourbon, wheated bourbons, high-rye bourbons).” She’s also impressed by the under-$50 offerings’ geographic diversity. “It's notable how many good bourbons are made outside of Kentucky,” Newman says. “It's a trend on the ascent for sure.” Of all of the bourbons listed below, the Dragon's Milk Beer Barrel Bourbon was Newman’s most memorable sip of 2023. “I'm not typically a stout drinker, but I truly enjoyed this bottling,” she recalls. “It was somehow luscious and lively at the same time, with lots of warm, roasty notes framed by bright fruit.” Top-Seller Astor Whiskey Decanter and Glasses Set In Stock | $69.99+ Shop Now Why You Should Trust Us All products featured here are independently selected by our team, which is comprised of experienced writers and wine tasters and overseen by editorial professionals at Wine Enthusiast headquarters. All ratings and reviews are performed blind in a controlled setting and reflect the parameters of our 100-point scale. Wine Enthusiast does not accept payment to conduct any product review, though we may earn a commission on purchases made through links on this site. Prices were accurate at the time of publication.