What Spirit Are You Most Likely To Splurge On? - Exclusive Survey

Sipping on a cocktail can be a great way to spend an evening out with friends or relax at home after a long work week. The Mayo Clinic even states that there has been some evidence of moderate alcohol consumption being beneficial in reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, or strokes.

Keeping your home bar stocked with spirits is a great way to save money instead of spending cash on overpriced bar drinks. There are plenty of cheap options available for alcohol at most grocery and liquor stores, but sometimes spending a little more on your preferred spirit could be worth it. Doling out extra cash on the alcohol for your favorite cocktail can elevate the flavor and make for a more relaxing sipping experience. In this exclusive Tasting Table survey, we asked our readers, "Which spirit are you most likely to splurge on?" Here's where they said they were willing to shell out extra money.

It was a close call

The drink that 27.21% of readers prefer to splurge on is the one that is often sipped on its own: Whiskey. Whether it is mixed into a whiskey sour, an old fashioned, or just sipped on the rocks, it seems that people care about quality when it comes to the smokey, sweet alcohol. According to Liquor Laboratory, whiskey can take on a variety of flavors depending on the grains they are created from, but it should ideally be sweet and reminiscent of caramel.

In second place is vodka, with 24.15% of the votes. The clear alcohol is popular in drinks like Bloody Marys, martinis, and screwdrivers — and the success of high-end brands like Grey Goose and Belvedere proves that people are willing to spend when it comes to vodka. In third place is the margarita's best friend: Tequila, with 21.94% of the vote. Close behind is rum — the perfect companion to daiquiris, piña coladas, and a variety of other cocktails — with 19.39%. And finally, in last place comes gin with only 7.31%. Though it was a close race for the other four spirits, the namesake of the classic gin & tonic fell short.