Does this encompass wine as well as spirits? My son bought me a bottle each of Chateau Latour and Ch. Laffite-Rothschild.
He was dating a quite wealthy girl at the time and she offered, so...
The most I've spent was probably $50 for a nice red Bordeaux, and I usually shop very selectively and know a value when it's on sale. Good Rhine or Mosel Riesling in Spatlese grades can easily exceed $30-35, and I can't afford that routinely.
The better Chilean reds are good, for much less, as well as some CA and WA wines. Ch. Ste. Michelle in WA makes good chardonnay, as does their sister winery, Columbia Crest. Kendall-Jackson in CA has a nice Sauvignon blanc for maybe $8.99. If I'm getting a chicken at the deli, these are more reasonable accompaniments to it than a pricy wine, and they're quite good.
If I win a major sweepstakes, I'll try Bernkasteler Doctor or another bottle of Ch. Latour. Or, Ch. D'Yquem. I have enjoyed Ch. Coutet, which has to be close to Ch. D'Yquem in more than locale. The 1975 Ch. Coutet was splendid. Of course, these Sauternes wines are too sweet for meals, and are drunk on their own or with fruit.
In whisky, I've liked The Glenlivet, the usual 12 year old one, Dewar's, and Haig's Pinch. I have a book on Scotch that says it really doesn't improve a lot beyond 12 years. I think a lot of the appeal of old bottles is just hype.
In whiskey (American spelling), preferred bourbon is W.L. Weller, the usual one, not the 101 proof.
Maker's Mark is also very good.
In beers, Michelob, Tuborg, Kirin, Sam Adams, and Grolsch. If I want a light beer, Heineken. Samuel Smith's Old Pale Ale is very nice, too.
If I swilled alcohol like some do, I couldn't afford all of these. Drunk in moderation, they add a lot to life. Drunk in excess, alcohol can ruin lives. Use common sense.
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