@mrMet
Got a few of my cheapies I like a good bit.
That tequila is El Ultimo. I've only had the Blanco thus far. Seems a good bit of folks like the respado's better in their brands of choice. For Vodka it’s Luskasawa. Smooth. Polish. Potato and cheap. New Amsterdam on the gin. Not alot of Gin down the throat, but this is is quite smooth and sippable neat for the money. Travelers, Legent, and Woodford Reserve Rye on other bourbons or whiskey. I don’t spend over $40 after taxes on anything. And the cheaper the good find the better. Hence my vodka, tequila and gin go to selection. For 10 year single malt scotch at $30 you cannot best Aerstone. I prefer the Sea Cask. It is barelled and aged seaside. Their Land Cask is peated for the braver souls. A relatively unkonwn gem of a Scotch distiller.
The Tequila is $20 Don't see a need to try anything more expensive. Store employee drinks this and recommended it.
The Gin & Vodka are $15 (If it's going down the hatch cheap and neat, I'm totally good on only these two choices)
Legent Bourbon and Traveller Whiskey are $35ish. Legent doesn't get much publicity but is quite good. Traveller is a relatively new country singer brand.
Aerstone is $30ish (comes in a box) Very hard to beat in Scotch for the money. Irish and Scotch are my preferred but I've been trying bourbons.
Woodford Rye is around $40 after tax and pushes the upper limit i'm willing to pay but is worth the nod.
And if you need a liqueur mixer that calls for the flavor profile, Elderflower liqueur is very nice. Especially in a Gin Fizz.