The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 17: Thanksgiving Surprises on the Shelf

Thanksgiving morning wasn’t supposed to turn into a bourbon hunt. I was at BJ’s in Jacksonville hoping to score a bird big enough to feed a small army, and while I did glance toward the allocated shelf—because who wouldn’t—I didn’t expect much. They had a really tempting Old Forester store pick and even a Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Strength for $56 (which I will be going back for), but my attention shifted when I rotated to the everyday offerings.

Two bottles for $45 each. One familiar, one completely new to me. Both too interesting to leave behind.

Bulleit Bottled in Bond

100 Proof | ~$45 | Score: 78.88

Background

Introduced in 2019, Bulleit Bottled in Bond is Diageo’s nod to the historic Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897: at least four years old, 100 proof, and distilled in a single season at a single distillery. For a long time, that meant the old Stitzel-Weller complex in Louisville, where Diageo handled much of its bourbon production before shifting more work to the newer Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville.

Bulleit is known for its high-rye mashbill and its steady presence on nearly every liquor store shelf in America. The Bottled in Bond expression aims to offer something a little more classic—straightforward bourbon notes, dependable proof, and a price that appeals to everyday drinkers rather than collectors.

Tasting Notes

This bottle and I have a complicated relationship. I adored it the first time I tried it, but in blind tastings it has never quite lived up to that initial spark. Still, I wanted to revisit it.

The color is a solid mid-copper, and the nose—while lighter than expected—offers caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon. The palate is where it starts to shine: cinnamon, caramel, vanilla, and oak delivered with a surprisingly nice viscosity for a $45 bottle. The finish is shorter, but sweet and satisfying — classic caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon seeing you out the door.

It’s not a world-beater, but it absolutely earns its place in a cheapskate lineup.

Copper & Cask “Private Batch” for BJ’s

8 Years | 116 Proof | ~$45 | Score: 84.52

Background

Copper & Cask is one of the more respected independent bottlers in American whiskey today. Part of Latitude Beverage, they don’t distill their own spirit; instead, they select high-quality barrels from established producers (often MGP in Indiana) and release single-barrel or micro-batch offerings exclusively for retailers. They’ve built their reputation on transparency, age statements, high proof, and letting good bourbon speak for itself.

This BJ’s “private batch” is only five barrels blended together — essentially a curated micro-batch — and at eight years old and 116 proof, it sits right in the sweet spot where well-aged MGP bourbon tends to shine.

Tasting Notes

This is the bottle that instantly grabbed my attention. The color is a deep copper — bordering on mahogany — and the nose is beautiful: maple, brown sugar, nutmeg, caramel.

The flavors deliver exactly what the nose promises: warm cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, and a touch of oak earned honestly over eight patient years. The mouthfeel is velvety and rich, coating the tongue in a way that feels far above the price point. The finish is warm and lingering, with caramel and spice leading the way.

For $45, this feels like a Thanksgiving blessing.

Two Thanksgiving Surprises, One Happy Cheapskate

The best bourbon finds often happen when you’re not looking for them. I walked into BJ’s hunting for a turkey—but walked out with two bottles that will slide comfortably into my 64-whiskey March Madness bracket this spring.

Thanksgiving has a way of reminding me that the best things in life often aren’t the ones we planned for. This wasn’t supposed to be a bourbon run — it was a grocery dash for a turkey I should’ve bought days earlier. But these two bottles turned an ordinary errand into a small moment of discovery, the kind that makes this hobby endlessly fun. So tonight, after the plates are cleared and the leftovers are packed away, I’ll pour a glass from one of these unexpected finds and give thanks — for family, for good bourbon at great prices, and for the surprises waiting on the shelves when we least expect them.