Chapter 1
The Best Bourbon Under $50: The Bottles We Actually Pour, Sorted by How You Drink
Everyday bourbons we pour at home, all under $50, sorted by how you drink them.
The Liquor Barn
The Barn Buyer's Guides
A field guide to the bottles worth buying, from a family shop that has been pouring since 1982
Family-owned since 1982 · Fall 2026 Edition
Preface
Since 1982, most of what we know about spirits has been learned across the counter, one customer and one bottle at a time. These guides are those conversations, written down: the bottles worth buying, sorted by how you plan to drink them.
Every chapter starts with bottles we have tasted and poured, at a range of prices.
Read a chapter straight through, or turn to the part you need. Each one opens with our short answer, then goes deeper for anyone who wants the detail.
How we choose
- Tasted, not ranked by score. These are bottles we have poured ourselves, not a list built from ratings.
- Sorted by how you drink. Sipping, mixing and gifting each get their own picks.
- Every price point. Each guide includes an everyday bottle alongside the splurge.
- Not for sale. We do not take money for placement in these guides. Every pick is ours.
- Kept current. We update the guides as the shelf changes.
Part I: Whiskey
Bourbon, rye, Scotch, Irish and Japanese, with a bottle worth buying at every price.
Chapter 2
The Best Rye Whiskey: Our Picks for a Manhattan, a Sazerac and Sipping Neat
Spicy, bold ryes for a Manhattan, a Sazerac or a slow pour neat.
Chapter 3
The Best Scotch Whisky: Single Malts, Peat, Sherry and Blends, Picked From Our Shelf
Single malts, peat, sherry casks and blends, explained and picked from our shelf.
Chapter 4
The Best Irish Whiskey: Single Pot Still, Blends and Single Malts, and What to Buy After Jameson
Pot still, single malt and blends for when you are ready to go past Jameson.
Chapter 5
The Best Japanese Whisky: Suntory, Nikka and the Bottles Worth Finding, Sorted by How You Drink
Suntory, Nikka and the harder to find bottles worth hunting down.
Chapter 6
The Complete Bourbon Guide: Everyday Bottles to Rare Allocations
Our long read on bourbon, from everyday bottles to rare allocations.
Chapter 7
Rye vs. Bourbon: What's the Difference?
Mash bills, flavor and which one belongs in your next cocktail.
Part II: Agave
Tequila for sipping and for margaritas, and mezcal from espadín to wild agave.
Chapter 8
The Best Tequila for Sipping: Blanco, Reposado, Añejo and Extra Añejo
Blanco through extra añejo, with the bottles we reach for neat.
Chapter 9
The Best Tequila for Margaritas: Workhorse Blancos, Premium Picks and the Right Orange Liqueur
Workhorse blancos, premium picks and the orange liqueur to pair them with.
Chapter 10
The Best Mezcal: Espadín, Ensambles and Wild Agave
Espadín, ensambles and wild agave, from a first sip to collector bottles.
Chapter 11
Mezcal vs. Tequila: What's the Difference?
How the two agave spirits differ, and how to choose between them.
Part III: Clear Spirits
The backbone of every home bar: vodka, gin and rum.
Chapter 12
The Best Vodka: Bottles to Sip, Shake Into a Martini or Pour by the Batch
Vodkas to sip cold, shake into a martini or pour by the batch.
Chapter 13
The Best Gin: London Dry, New Western and Old Tom, Matched to Your Martini, G&T or Negroni
London Dry, New Western and Old Tom, matched to the drink you are making.
Chapter 14
The Best Rum: White, Aged, Jamaican, Agricole and Spiced, Matched to the Drink in Your Hand
White, aged, Jamaican, agricole and spiced, matched to the glass in your hand.
Part IV: Brandy and Rakija
From the great Cognac houses to Balkan fruit brandy, a category we have carried for decades.
Chapter 15
The Best Cognac: VS vs. VSOP vs. XO, and the Bottle to Buy for Each
VS, VSOP and XO explained, with the bottle to buy at each level.
Chapter 16
The Best Rakija and Slivovitz: Plum, Grape, Quince and Apricot Brandy From Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Beyond
Plum, grape, quince and apricot brandy from the Balkans and beyond.
Part V: Liqueurs
The bottles that make the cocktail, and a few that are best on their own.
Chapter 17
The Best Bitter Liqueurs: Amaro, Aperitivo and Fernet, Matched to How You Drink
Amaro, aperitivo and fernet, sorted by how bitter you like it.
Chapter 18
The Best Coffee Liqueurs: Kahlúa, Mr Black and the Bottles Behind a Great Espresso Martini
The bottles behind a great espresso martini, and the ones worth sipping.
Chapter 19
The Best Cream Liqueurs: Baileys, RumChata, Bourbon Cream and the Bottles Worth Gifting
Baileys, RumChata, bourbon cream and the bottles worth gifting.
Chapter 20
The Best Orange Liqueurs: Cointreau vs Grand Marnier vs Triple Sec vs Dry Curaçao
Cointreau, Grand Marnier, triple sec and dry curaçao, compared side by side.
Chapter 21
The Best Amaretto: Disaronno, Lazzaroni, Luxardo and the Bottles Worth Your Shelf
Disaronno, Lazzaroni, Luxardo and more, for sours, sipping and coffee.
Chapter 22
The Best Herbal Liqueurs: Chartreuse, Bénédictine, Strega and the Bottles That Stand In for Them
Chartreuse, Bénédictine, Strega and the bottles that stand in for them.