I used to have a bottle ceiling price of 100 – euro or sterling – but with escalating costs & criticism of rising bottle prices I’m revising that down to 50.
Rather than simply moan about the situation – I’ll take action.
At first you might think my choices would be limited – but when you begin to look – there’s a surprising amount of highly entertaining & enjoyable spirits to be had.
In the sub €20 white rum category I found surprising variety. Liberté from Lidl won out here. Press on the highlighted links to be diverted to my reviews.
Dunnes do a highly engaging sub €20 whisky by the name of JG Kinsey.
All of Royal Oak Distillery’s output – blend, single grain, single malt & single pot still – is below €50 & thoroughly decent they are too.
However – most of the above attract little attention & appear to be looked down on by the blogging community.
Budget doesn’t mean a lack of taste, flair or character. It might mean a lack of bragging rights & exclusivity and it certainly involves a degree of exploration to find the one that suits your palate – which is part of the fun.
But looking down on such offerings & the folks that drink them is nothing but snobbery – which is never attractive.
To me this is evident in the almost total rejection of Conor McGregor’s Proper Twelve brand within Ireland – despite it becoming the 4th biggest selling Irish Whiskey in the world after only a few years.
It’s also behind the lack of reviews for the correctly labelled Kyasuku World Whisky.
For €30 you get an attractively presented Mizunara casked whisky blended & matured in Japan.
Only fools would turn their noses up at such an opportunity given the clamour over inflated prices for similar product.
The companies – as far as my basic economics goes – are after all doing what they’re meant to – boosting profits for the shareholders.
And no – I won’t be missing out on high end stuff.
There’s been a positive explosion of on-line tastings, bottle swaps & exchanges, clubs & societies as well as good old fashioned pubs & whiskey shows where opportunities arise to taste the delights – or disappointments – beyond reach.
My nearly 120 bottle selection is always open for exchange – Irish based only – so get in touch to try out something new.
For me, tasting & exploring is far more important than owning.
Sláinte
All images authors own unless stated.
WestmeathWhiskeyWorld 
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