The Best Hard Liquor Brands You Can Afford On A Student Budget

Liquor adds up when you're buying it regularly. If you want to party every weekend, you need these: the best hard liquor brands that won't break the bank.

As college students, we all know what it’s like to need a little escape, to relax, or to get out of your own head every now and again. We also know what it’s like to party. Put those things together and the common denominator is often liquor. But keep in mind most of us are totally broke from trying to pay student debt, so we can’t be expected to spend all of our remaining bank balance on liquor just to have fun or to relax. There are a lot of really expensive hard liquor brands out there, but there are also some really good brands that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Here are some of the best hard liquor brands for any student who is low on funds. Most all of these fall under $25 per bottle!

1. Evan Williams

This is the second best selling bourbon out there. Straight from Kentucky, the founder was dubbed as “Kentucky’s First Distiller” in 1783 on the bank of the Ohio river. This brand has been highly praised by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

2. El Dorado

This is one of the best hard liquor brands for rum. Their rum has a distinctly unique flavor that is said to be caused by the tropical climate of the country of Guyana along the banks of the Demerara river. They’ve won dozens of awards from best in class trophies to spirits seals of approval.

3. Rittenhouse Rye

This one honors the heritage that commemorates Philadelphia’s famous Rittenhouse square. This brand is famous for its distinctly spicy flavor. The proof on this one? 100 proof!

4. Old Crow

This brand was named “for the inventor of the sour mash process Dr. James C. Crow” in 1835. This brand is one of the best hard liquor brands of bourbon. It was given to both Northern and Southern regiments during the Civil War. This one is 80 proof.

5. Monarch

This brand of gin is actually a top seller in both Oregon and Washington. It is a distilled London Dry Gin and bottled at 80 proof!

6. Mr. Boston

Specifically, their blackberry brandy is super cheap for a nicely sized bottle! Their distillery was founded in Massachusetts in 1933, and they are now housed in Kentucky. Older versions of the brand were well-known for their collectible bottles, like the 1953 Presidential Inaugural Bottle.

7. Arandas

This one has the fiery sensation common with tequila. It’s named after the most well-known tequila producing town. It’s known for its highly textured bottle that has Mayan hieroglyphic symbols on it.

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8. Beefeater

This is actually a London Dry Gin, and the brand has one distillery, eight stills, nine botanicals and three expert distillers who work hard to produce their signature flavor in London. The brand was founded in 1863 and holds a very prestigious title of the world’s most awarded gin. Apparently this one is known for its strong citrus notes in its gin.

9. Luksusowa

Even though this is known as a “luxury” vodka, it’s still pretty cheap compared to other brands. The unique part of this one? It’s made from potatoes, which the brand’s website calls the “manliest of all vegetables.” This Polish premium vodka was created in 1928 and is 80 proof.

10. 1800

1800 Silver Tequila is created with 100 percent agave and has amazing flavors like RTD peach and raspberry margarita. Their RTD mixes are among the fastest growing ready-to-drink brands currently available on the market.