I know the value of a bottom shelf spirit. Sure, in the two decades I’ve written about alcohol, I've mostly moved way past the low-shelf swill that I found acceptable in my college days. But just because something is extremely cheap doesn’t mean it has no value. You’ll find countless fans of Old Crow, Benchmark, and Ancient Age. That's why I always keep a bottle of Seagram's 7 Crown Blended Whiskey on my home bar.
I get it. Seagram’s 7 is the epitome of the bottom shelf experience. It comes in a plastic bottle with a twist top that doesn't come close to the elegance of even cheaper blended Scotch whiskies. Maybe it’s nostalgia or maybe it’s price, but Seagram’s 7 always has a place in my heart.
The first cocktail I ever ordered at a bar was a '7 and 7.' There’s a decent chance I ordered it because it’s my dad’s favorite cocktail—although he sticks mostly to beer in his retirement years. The highball cocktail made from equal parts Seagram’s 7 and 7 Up, while still imbibed among nostalgic drinkers like me, was wildly popular in the 1970s when my dad was frequenting local taverns in western New York.
For those new to Seagram’s 7, there’s a reason this blended whiskey is extremely inexpensive. It’s referred to as a blended whiskey. But unlike blended Scotch whiskies which are a blend of malt and grain whiskeys, Seagram’s 7 is a blend made up of 25 percent straight whiskey and 75 percent neutral grain spirit. If you’re surprised that it's still considered a blended whiskey, I don’t blame you. But U.S. regulations state that blended whiskeys only need 20 percent of the alcohol included to be straight whiskey. Neutral grain spirits, meanwhile, are the same stuff used to make Everclear, vodka, and gin.
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The straight whiskey and neutral grain spirit are blended together and then matured for at least four years in oak barrels. The result is a decent rainy day sipper and great mixer that begins with a nose of caramelized sugar, candied nuts, vanilla, and boozy ethanol. The palate is all toasted vanilla beans, caramel candy, cracked black pepper, oak, and light smoke. The finish is dry, sweet, and very warm.
There’s no disputing the fact that Seagram’s 7 is a cheap whiskey. It tastes exactly like you’d think it would. You’re probably not going to be drinking it neat. This is a classic mixing whiskey and one that works well in a pinch in all of your favorite whiskey-based cocktails.
That said, for the price, you’ll have a tough time finding a better whiskey. That’s because you can easily find a 750ml bottle of Seagram’s 7 for $12 to $15. In a world of over-the-top expensive whiskeys, this blended whiskey costs the same price as a meal at your favorite fast food restaurant.
Back in 2018, Seagram’s even created a holiday to pay tribute to Seagram’s 7 and the iconic 7 and 7 cocktail. You might have guessed it already, but July 7 is now National Dive Bar Day. It’s the perfect date to order the popular 70s-era cocktail at your nearest saloon, tavern, or pub.
Related: I Helped Review Hundreds of Whiskeys. This Cheap Bourbon Is My New Favorite
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