🍻 Tailgate & Taprooms
Best Bourbons for Tailgating: Smooth, Affordable, and Built for the Banter
College football Saturdays. NFL Sundays. Playoff baseball. No matter the scoreboard, the tailgate is always undefeated. The grills fire up, the music turns loud, and the bourbon comes out. But here’s the question — what bottle deserves a spot on your tailgate table?
You don’t need to roll up with a $200 unicorn nobody wants to open. The sweet spot is smooth, affordable, and damn easy to sip before kickoff. Here’s a breakdown of bottles that bring the heat without emptying the wallet.
1. Evan Williams Black Label
- Price: ~$12–15
- Why It Works: Tailgating is about sharing. For the price of a stadium beer, you can snag a full bottle. Sweet, mellow, no burn — everybody’s happy.
- Pro Move: Grab two. One for shots with the crew, one for sipping in the parking lot throne chair.
2. Evan Williams Bottled in Bond
- Price: ~$18–20
- Why It Works: Same family, but this one packs a little more punch. Richer, darker flavor that works just as well neat as it does in a quick Coke.
- Tailgate Energy: Smooth enough for early-morning pours, bold enough to stand out when the music gets loud.
3. Old Forester 100 Proof
- Price: ~$25–28
- Why It Works: Apple, spice, toasted oak — it’s the bourbon that cuts through whatever tailgate food you’re stacking on a plate.
- UNC Take: This is the bottle you break out when the in-laws or the bosses roll through your tent and you want to look like you actually know bourbon.
4. Wild Turkey 101
- Price: ~$20–25
- Why It Works: Bold, spicy, honey-sweet, and guaranteed to put hair on your chest. 101 proof means you’ll feel it, but it’s still shockingly smooth.
- Tailgate Truth: If bourbon had a fight song, this bottle would lead the marching band.
5. Elijah Craig Small Batch
- Price: ~$28–32
- Why It Works: Balanced vanilla and spice. The definition of a crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re pouring solo cups or handing neat pours in Glencairns, everyone nods in approval.
- Play Call: Your “closer.” This is the bottle you crack when the sun starts going down and the pregame speeches start rolling.
Final Whistle
If you’re showing up to the tailgate with Evan Williams Black, you’re already winning the budget game. If you want to flex a little, Old Forester 100 or Wild Turkey 101 bring that perfect mix of flavor and punch. And if you’re saving one bottle for the VIPs, let Elijah Craig Small Batch carry the load.
The beauty of bourbon tailgating is simple — it’s not about rare bottles, it’s about the banter before the game. Smooth. Affordable. Damn good in a plastic cup. That’s the formula.
Written by somebody who’s actually lived it in Mississippi, not just read Yelp reviews
If you’ve spent years in Starkville, you know there are two kinds of people on football weekends:
- The ones blindly walking into the first spot they see because the sign says “BBQ.”
- The ones who know where the smoke, grease, and sweet tea actually hit different.
This is for group #2.
Starkville might be a small town, but it feeds an SEC-sized crowd like a pro. On game weekends, the food scene shifts into overdrive — equal parts Southern comfort, barroom chaos, and enough fried options to test your cholesterol.
The Unbeatable Five
Restaurant Tyler – Still the king. You go here for the fried okra, stay for the brunch, and end up justifying a $50 steak because the game doesn’t kick until 6.
Two Brothers Smoked Meats – Smoked Southern Soul Food. Pulled pork that tastes like it came from somebody’s uncle’s backyard, smoked chicken that disappears in minutes, and pork rind nachos that somehow feel like a full meal and an appetizer at the same time.
The Older Brother – Same ownership as Two Brothers, but it’s the boutique sandwich cousin. Tiny space, big flavors, zero chance of waltzing in without a wait on game day.
Bin 612 – The definition of Cotton District chaos. Cheese fries, tacos, and pizzas keep rolling until somebody yells “last call” — and if you’re here after midnight, you’ll probably make bad life decisions.
Stagger Inn – Where fried food and bad ideas meet. Order the Topless Hot Chick Dawgy Style (Texas toast, tenders, fries, queso, and Dawgy Style dry rub) and cancel whatever plans you had the next morning.
Local Mainstays
Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern – Pizza, gyros, and “Crack Dip” that’s spinach-artichoke-sriracha magic. The beer list is as good as the food.
Bulldog Burger – If you think a burger’s just a burger, the Freshman 15 (with fried mozzarella) will change your mind.
Oby’s – The Starkville comfort-food anchor. Catfish, Cajun plates, chicken tenders you’ll remember the next morning.
Starkville Café – No-frills breakfast that fuels farmers, students, and hungover fans alike.
Boardtown Pizza & Pints – Stone-fired pies with creative toppings. Hot honey + sopressata is the move.
Taste – Upscale Italian that’ll make you briefly forget you’re in a college town.
Locals-Only Favorites
Stromboli’s – Sweet-dough pizza and calzones. The cookie dough bites? Mandatory.
Georgia Blue – Duck gumbo over potato salad. Sounds strange, tastes perfect.
Arepas Coffee Bar – Venezuelan arepas for when you want a break from fried everything.
Proof Bakery – Morning game? Grab their breakfast sandwiches early or you’ll miss out.
Game Day Survival Tips
Get There Early – If you roll up to the Cotton District at noon for a 2:30 kick, enjoy your 45-minute wait.
Match Your Mood to Your Meal – Feeling fancy? Go to Tyler. Want loud and rowdy? Bin 612. Want to smell like smoke for the rest of the day? Two Brothers.
Don’t Skip Dessert – Stromboli’s cookie dough bites or Tyler’s sweets are worth the extra lap around the Junction.
Starkville isn’t just a game day stop…it’s a full-blown food gauntlet. From cowbells echoing down Main Street to pork shoulders smoking in the distance, this isn’t just eating… it’s part of the Mississippi State soundtrack.
Listen, I’ve been around Oxford long enough to know two things:
- If you’re here during football season, you ain’t just coming for the game.
- If you leave this town hungry, sober, or without a questionable story, that’s a you problem.
So let’s talk spots. Not some tourist brochure list — I’m talking the places that make Oxford, Oxford.
🍳 Mornings: AKA “Soak Up Last Night”
- BBB – Yeah, it’s overrated and the wait will have you questioning life choices, but those pancakes slap. You’ll be seated next to a hungover pledge in a wrinkled polo trying to act like he’s fine. He’s not.
- Beacon’s gone, which means you’ll have to get creative. Some folks swear by The Growler for a “morning smash” but just know—craft beer at 10 AM is a bold move unless you’ve got the day off (or no job).
🌮 Midday Fuel: “We Still Drinking or Nah?”
- Mis Raíces Sabor Latino – Lengua, birria, tripe? This ain’t Taco Bell, brother. This is real-deal, keep-your-socks-on good.
- Ajax Diner – Big Easy with bacon and cheese will make you forget the Rebels just gave up 500 yards rushing.
- Fergndan’s – Wood-fired pizza so good you’ll start swiping right on carbs again.
🍸 Nightlife: Where You Lose Track of Time
- Moe’s Penny Bar – Home to bartenders who’ll pour you heavy and regulars who’ll either become your new best friend or your sworn enemy by midnight.
- The Sipp – Classy enough to impress your date, rowdy enough you still might get tossed out.
- Snackbar – Craft cocktails and Indian-Southern fusion food. Chef’s leaving, so go now before they replace him with some dude who thinks “fusion” means dumping Rotel on everything.
🐟 Honorable Catfish Mention
- Taylor Grocery – You either love catfish or you’re wrong. The wife hates it? Cool, she can eat a side salad and watch the rest of us be happy.
🚨 Veteran Oxford Tips
- Avoid BBB on game weekends unless you enjoy standing in line listening to a frat guy explain “how our defense is actually elite.”
- If you see a construction roundabout, don’t try to “figure it out.” That thing’s been there longer than Lane Kiffin’s headset collection.
- If you order a mocktail at Boure or St. Leo, they’ll respect you… but everyone else at your table is still gonna talk sh*t.
Oxford ain’t just about gameday. It’s about where you end up after the Grove empties and the lights go out. You’ll eat too much, drink too much, and make a promise to “never do this again” that’ll last exactly three days.
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