I'm a bourbon drinker. I love the stuff. I don't know prices where you are but probably the best lowest priced "passable" boubon you can buy that is ~20 is Maker's Mark. There's also Bulleit and Buffalo Trace and a few others I can think of.
Opinions being what they are, and everyone having one and all that, I have to disagree somewhat here.
You can get decent bourbons under $20. Ancient Age is, in my opinion, pretty damn good for the price. Very Old Barton 100 proof needs a splash of water but is also a decent sipper. Anything by Weller, though some of them push up over $20. Weller is supposedly the same juice that goes into Pappy Van Winkle, which is much much pricier.
Makers is OK. Probably better than OK, but not something I typically stock. Not a huge fan of Buffalo Trace but it's OK, too. You can do better for the money, IMO.
In the mid-$20s I like Wathen's and Elmer T. Lee. In the pricier range, I enjoy Four Roses Single Barrel and Noah's Mill (bottled by KBD but distilled by others). Shared some Blanton's with a friend last week and it was better than I recalled but still over priced (again, IMO).
I'm told Evan Williams is a decent bourbon at a low low price point.
I've heard the same, and have a bottle in my cabinet. On the bottom shelf next to the Beam. OK for mixing or using in a BBQ sauce or mop sauce.
Elijah Craig gets a lot of praise, too. It's OK.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Templeton Rye base spirit is made by MGP, a bioplastics food conglomerate, in Indiana. (95% rye, 5% barley) That base spirit is sold to several different brands to make several different whiskeys like Templeton Rye, Bulleit Rye, Willet, George Dickel Rye, etc.
So long story short, it may not be made in your home state.
You are not wrong. Rye is a whole 'nother thread and I could go on an on. Can't beat the Sazerac rye if/when you can get it.
Here's a fun read which can maybe also give Euge some guidance on what to try next.
http://www.gq.com/life/food/201311/bourbon-whiskey-family-treeI went on a budget bourbon spree last year (or maybe two years ago) and Ancient Age, VOB and Weller were the best of the bunch. You can also check out StraightBourbon.com and other sites dedicated to whiskey.