The Bottom Shelfers

The Bottom Shelfers are two college fraternity brothers continuing their 5+ decade quest to find THE great whiskies available at a reasonable price. They figure their recon may never end…

Peneleope Wheated & 1792 Bottled In Bond 12/15/2025

Peneleope Wheated & 1792 Bottled In Bond A step up for the boys this time. Penelope Wheated & 1792 Bottled In Bond. Both are winners! Stock up for your Holdiay guests! The 1792 BIB struck us both as an especially good choice. /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/39418840

Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey & Benchmark Full Proof 11/17/2025

Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey & Benchmark Full Proof Woodinville is a great everyday bourbon choice. Solid sipper both neat on a rock. The Benchmark Full Proof might be better used as a stain remover or paint thinner. WAY to hot! ...even on ice. /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/39063105

Benchmark Top Floor & Yellowstone Select 10/25/2025

Benchmark Top Floor & Yellowstone Select We had high hopes for Benchmark Top Floor, but... We both went with 1.5 and were maybe a bit generous. The Yellowstone is pretty good! One caveat though... Rick got it for $30 which makes it a good buy. For Todd at $37, not such a bargain. /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/38779080

Kentucky Vintage & Remus 10/07/2025

Kentucky Vintage & Remus Neither of us had heard of these two before... The Kentucky Vintage, well... sadly, it's going under the sink. The Remus wasn't too bad at all, but not a big favorite. We took one for the team on this one! /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/38503070

Episode 21 - Old Bardstown & Benchmark Bonded 09/23/2025

Episode 21 - Old Bardstown & Benchmark Bonded Heading to a lower shelf set of bourbons this time... Old Bardstown 90 Proof vs. Benchmark Bonded. While the Benchmark #8 did not impress, some of the other expressions - like this one - are pretty good! /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/38330485

Bowman Brothers Small Batch & Eagle Rare 09/02/2025

Bowman Brothers Small Batch & Eagle Rare Got a pair of 90-proofers this time around. LOTS of similarities between these two... The biggest difference is the rye spice in Bowmans. We both called these "classic mid-tier" bourbons. Both have a great mouth feel with the edge going to Eagle Rare. We recommend the Bowmans neat and the Eagle with a big cube. Two winners here! /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/38064060

Smoked Bourbon! Benchmark #8 & Woodson 07/10/2025

Smoked Bourbon! Benchmark #8 & Woodson The Bottom Shelfers have a theory... Using a smoker (from ) it is possible to turn mediocre - or even bad - whiskey into something quite palatable. Rick has been a fan for quite some time. FINALLY, Todd gives it a try! /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/37367435

Woodson & 13th Colony 07/08/2025

Woodson & 13th Colony An Independence Day special!!! Woodson, a 6-month "accelerated-aged" Kentucky Bourbon was... eh..., but the 13th Colony was quite a pleasant surprise. Not exactly true bottom shelf picks, but the GA product is a winner in any case. /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/37335400

Tin Cup & Breckenridge 06/10/2025

Tin Cup & Breckenridge The Tin Cup cup hexagonal bottle with the literal tin cup lid is very cool. That said, it's a 1. It's going under the sink. Not offensive by any means, but unremarkable. The Breckenridge was a good bit better, but only earned a 2 rating. Rick & Todd are warning you away from these two. Although if you find Breckenridge for $25 or so, that would be a decent buy. Oh.... Here's a link to Todd's choice for a ! /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/36941330

Jim Beam Black & Benchmark Single Barrel 05/20/2025

Jim Beam Black & Benchmark Single Barrel /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/36643640

Episode 15 - 1792 Small Batch & Knob Creek 9-Year Small Batch 05/12/2025

Episode 15 - 1792 Small Batch & Knob Creek 9-Year Small Batch Sticking with the Small Batch designation and welcoming the first guest on The Bottom Shelfers. Welcome to Mark! While our guest couldn't get hold of the 1792, he kept Rick & I in line. All three of us were clear fans of the Knobb! /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/36540920

Jim Beam Devil's Cut & Old Forester 100 04/26/2025

Jim Beam Devil's Cut & Old Forester 100 The Devil's Cut from Jim Beam was OK. Maybe a little gimmicky marketing... The Old Forester 100 though! One of us just might put this one on the "my everyday bourbon list." Pricey in NJ at $34, but a great deal in GA at $23. /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/36322710

Green River Wheated & Bulleit 03/28/2025

Green River Wheated & Bulleit Gotta' love the two bottles for this episode... And they're both winners. Green River smooth & soft, and old dependable Bulleit with punchy, long-lasting rye flavors. /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/35908460

Penelope 4 Grain & Elijah Craig Small Batch 03/14/2025

Penelope 4 Grain & Elijah Craig Small Batch Penelope is a relatively new distillery, founded in 2018 and Elijah Craig is one of the oldest dating from 1789. We both liked the newcomer - had nothing negative to say. Old Elijah though... The clear winner this time. Both bottles headed to #2, the upper liquor cabinet in the office! /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/35680785

Redemption Bourbon & Old Bardstown KY Straight Bourbon 02/04/2025

Redemption Bourbon & Old Bardstown KY Straight Bourbon The Old Bardstown was pretty darn good. Redemption? Eh.... /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/35148585

Episode 10 – Uncle Nearest 1884 & Blue Note Juke Joint 01/09/2025

Episode 10 – Uncle Nearest 1884 & Blue Note Juke Joint Rick outdid himself by choosing these not-bottom shelfers. Both are affordable and really good sippers! Maybe put 'em on ice, but never in a cocktail. Have 'em neat! /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/34788490

Episode 9 - Benchmark Small Batch & Old Grand Dad 114 12/12/2024

Episode 9 - Benchmark Small Batch & Old Grand Dad 114 Two pleasant surprises! The Benchmark Small Batch neat is a nice sippin' whiskey, and the Old Grand Dad 114 is versatile. I'll enjoy both neat and on the rocks! /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/34422310

Jack Daniels & Gentleman Jack 11/07/2024

Jack Daniels & Gentleman Jack Jack Daniels is for sure a classic! Old #7 and Gentleman Jack both have the same mash bill, but are distinctly different. We agreed that you can't go wrong with either. Personally, Gentleman J on ice is great summer day sippin' whiskey! /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/33840237

Ezra Brooks 99 & Redemption High Rye Bourbon 10/14/2024

Ezra Brooks 99 & Redemption High Rye Bourbon We found a few redeeming features, but these two both landed on the Bottom Shelf for sure. We're going to try them smoked and see what happens... /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/33454192

The Olds - Old Rick, Old Todd, Old Forester & Old Grand Dad 09/20/2024

The Olds - Old Rick, Old Todd, Old Forester & Old Grand Dad Two great value picks! We give Old Forester the edge here, but were very pleasantly surprised by both. /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/33152357

Rebel 100 & Wild Turkey 101 09/08/2024

Rebel 100 & Wild Turkey 101 The battle of the 100-proofers! Not to throw out a spolier, but... Nah... Listen & find out what the boys think! /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/32959617

Small Batch Battle - Evan Williams 1783 vs. Four Roses 08/22/2024

Small Batch Battle - Evan Williams 1783 vs. Four Roses Two winners here... 2nd Shelf good stuff. Evan comes out on top. /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/32705962

Larceny & Traveller 08/08/2024

Larceny & Traveller Larceny, a wheated bourbon, and Traveller, a new blended whiskey from Sazerac are on today's menu. Grab a glass and join us! /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/32501747

Evan Williams Bottled In Bond & Benchmark Old #8 07/17/2024

Evan Williams Bottled In Bond & Benchmark Old #8 Two lower-priced choices this time... We gave 'em a fair shot... /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/32185687

Makers Mark & Woodford Reserve 07/02/2024

Makers Mark & Woodford Reserve In this inaugural episode, Rick & Todd taste and comment on their mutual "benchmark" bourbons. Sip along and let us know what YOU think! /episode/index/show/7da6af4b-875f-41f6-9257-2e62c9e2cd6f/id/31986717

The Bottom Shelfers

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