lowkey obsessed with cheap whiskey but need advice

Okay so, I recently started trying out whiskey more seriously (like, I used to just do shots with friends, but now I’m actually paying attention??) and I’ve been sticking mostly to cheap whiskey because honestly, my budget is tight but I still want something decent to sip slowly.

Extra context: I’ve tried a few different brands,mostly your $15-$25 range bottles and some are surprisingly smooth, while others taste like burnt wood mixed with regret. I’ve noticed that sometimes cheap whiskey can be a little harsh on the throat but other times it’s actually kind of enjoyable? Like i can taste caramel or vanilla hints even if it’s technically low end.

My question is how do I consistently find cheap whiskey that doesn’t taste like disappointment? I saw some listings on Alibaba with bulk bottles for really low prices which made me wonder if there’s a way to discover solid options without spending a fortune in a store.

I also want to know if anyone else has noticed differences in taste between small bottles and bulk ones? Sometimes I feel like smaller bottles age differently or just taste fresher?

Tl;dr: I want cheap whiskey that’s actually drinkable, tips for picking bottles and maybe avoiding the really nasty ones.