The Best Bourbons Under $50, According To Bartenders

FORBES, May 29, 2025 - By Emily Price

If you’ve ever stood in the whiskey aisle staring down a wall of bottles and wondering if that $28 bourbon will make you feel refined or just regretful, you’re not alone. Fortunately, good bourbon doesn’t have to cost as much as a steak dinner. Some bottles under $50 are not just passable—they’re genuinely fantastic, whether you’re sipping neat, mixing a Manhattan or just trying to impress someone without showing them your receipt.

I asked bartenders, beverage directors and bourbon buffs across the country to share their go-to bottles that over deliver under the $50 mark.

A bold pour with a bigger purpose

Named in tribute to the late Congressman John Lewis, Good Trouble bourbon blends flavor and mission. Bottled at 92 proof, this small-batch Kentucky bourbon delivers well-rounded notes of vanilla, toasted oak and warm baking spices. Chicago bartender Josh Davis puts it best:

“With its combination of quality craftsmanship, distinctive flavor and social mission, Good Trouble offers a premium experience at an accessible price point.”

This is the bottle you pull out when you want to taste something good—and feel good about it. Pro tip: Try it in a whiskey sour to let the caramel and spice play nicely with citrus.

Whether you’re building your bourbon bar on a budget or just want to find a bottle that impresses without intimidation, this list proves you don’t have to spend a fortune to drink like you did. And if anyone rolls their eyes at your under-$50 pick, just pour them a glass and let the bourbon do the talking. Odds are, they’ll be asking where you got it by the second sip.