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Here’s the situation - you reallllly want to leave any traces of Natty Lite in your life behind after graduation but you also can’t afford to shell out $65 for a good bottle of single-malt scotch, either. You realize that liquor and spirits are both classy and enjoyable but you can’t afford to break the bank choosing the highest end booze. So, what do you do?

1. Change your brands: Pick something in the middle. There really is no difference between Smirnoff and Grey Goose beyond fancy packaging. Oh, and about $20. There’s no need to settle down with a bottle of $70 Laphroaig scotch after work when a $40 bottle of Glenfiddich will do the trick.

photo credit: kalwa

2. Change spirits: Rather than shelling out of premium vodka or scotch, think about bourbon or rum. Good, sippable bourbons start at $10 to $15 cheaper than scotch, and except for the absolute top-shelf, the premium bottles top out at a price-point where scotch and cognac are just starting to get respectable. Meanwhile, premium rums are incredibly cheap when compared to similarly aged spirits (such as whiskey and cognac), with sippable rums starting around just $20 a bottle.According to Paul Clarke of Imbibe Magazine,

Even better, the quality and range of excellent sipping rums has taken off in recent years, and some truly exceptional rums can be found for about the same price as a basic single-malt scotch or reposado tequila—think Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 Anos, which retails for around $35; or Barbancourt 15-year-old, which goes for around $40. Explore the rum category, and walk out with two bottles of top-of-the-line spirits for less than what you’d pay for a single bottle of mid-range cognac.

3. Become one with the cocktail: When you’re having company over (in large or small numbers) don’t go directly to breaking out “the good stuff”; instead, think about mixing some cocktails. You’ll find that cheaper premium stuff works even better in a cocktail than the top-shelf booze and you can prepare awesome drinks for a fraction of the cost. As Clarke explains,

Instead of opening that $40 bottle of Macallan, try mixing some Manhattans: you can pick up a bottle of Rittenhouse bonded rye—a double-gold winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and one of the best bargains out there—for around $15, plus a bottle of decent sweet vermouth for another $6; toss in some Angostura bitters—$6 for a bottle that’ll last for years—and you’ve got perfectly respectable drinks for a crowd for much cheaper than what you’d spend on a single bottle of good scotch.

There are plenty of fun cocktails to be made when throwing a party which won’t break the bank. If a Manhattan isn’t your style and margaritas are a little out of budget, think about making daiquiris. You can get a bottle of decent white rum, some fresh lime juice and sugar to make a great daiquiri for less than one bottle of decent tequila.

photo credit: Gunter Panzerfaust

Or even better - for your next party, try mixing the “Poor Man’s Sangria”. A staple in Spain, all you need for Poor Man’s Sangria is a punch bowl, a bottle of diet orange soda and a box of red wine. If you want to at least appear classy, slice a lemon and an orange and throw them in the bowl as well. I promise your guests will be asking for the recipe after the first glass.

Source: “Cheap(er) Drinks: Tips For Enjoyable Drinking Without Going Broke” [seriouseats.com]

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