The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 23: Proof Positive

Every now and then, proof matters.

This time around, I lined up four bourbons hovering right around the century mark—three bottled at 100 proof and one that sneaks in at 101. That’s usually a sweet spot for me: enough punch to carry flavor, but not so much heat that everything turns into ethanol and regret.

What made this flight interesting wasn’t just the proof—it was the price spread and familiarity. One of these has been a reliable favorite for a while. The other three? Relative unknowns, at least in this context. So I went in blind, with the drams randomized and expectations deliberately muted.

The lineup, in order of price, looked like this:

Old Tub – $25
Rebel 100 – $25
Cooper’s Craft – $35
Johnny Drum – $45

I had one assumption going in: the darkest pour would probably be the Cooper’s Craft. Beyond that, I tried to ignore color entirely until all four had been nosed, tasted, and scored. No label bias. No bottle bias. Just four Glencairns and whatever they decided to bring to the table.

Before we get into the notes, a little background on each contender.

The Bottles

Old Tub
A throwback brand revived by Jim Beam, Old Tub is bottled-in-bond at 100 proof. It leans heavily into a traditional, nut-forward Beam profile and is often described as a value pour for folks who like their bourbon straightforward and old-school.

Rebel 100
This one comes from the Rebel/Yell family and carries a wheated mash bill. At 100 proof, it promises a little more backbone than its lower-proof siblings while still aiming for softness and approachability. At $25, it plays squarely in the everyday-drinker lane.

Cooper’s Craft (100 Proof)
This one is a bit of a sleeper from Brown-Forman. It uses the same mash bill as Old Forester, but it’s aged in grooved American oak barrels, which increase the wood’s surface area during maturation. Those grooved barrels are the same design used for Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select, though at a very different price point. There’s no secondary finishing here—just a smart barrel choice and solid execution. At 100 proof and usually priced in the mid-$30s, it consistently punches above its weight.

Johnny Drum
The wildcard. Bottled at 101 proof and carrying a higher price tag, Johnny Drum has a reputation for richer flavor and deeper character. This was the bottle I half-expected to steal the show.

With that context in place, here’s how the blind tasting unfolded.

The Tasting (Blind)

Glencairn #1

Aroma: Oak, caramel, chocolate, nutmeg
Flavor: All of the aromas carry through, but cinnamon replaces the nutmeg, and cherries make a surprise appearance.
Mouthfeel: A bit on the thin side, but not terrible.
Finish: This is where it shines. Chocolate-covered cherries show up and linger—easily the best part of the dram.

Glencairn #2

Aroma: Peanuts, brown sugar, caramel
Flavor: Spicier than expected. A lot of cinnamon and vanilla, but the peanuts never leave the conversation.
Mouthfeel: Again, on the thin side. Very basic.
Finish: Hangs on longer than expected. Spice retreats to the back of the throat while peanuts and caramel take over.

Glencairn #3

Aroma: More ethanol than expected. Dusty peanuts and caramel.
Flavor: Nice, but basic—peanuts, cinnamon, vanilla, caramel.
Mouthfeel: The thinnest of the four.
Finish: The lightest yet. It doesn’t vanish instantly, but it doesn’t stick around long enough to make a statement.

Glencairn #4

Aroma: Similar to #2 and #3, but richer. More oak and cinnamon.
Flavor: A full-on caramel-cinnamon bomb. Some oak shows up, but vanilla and spice do most of the work.
Mouthfeel: Silky, but falls short of #1.
Finish: Spicy and delicious. Nearly as long as #1, with warm caramel and spice dominating.

Color & Scores (After the Reveal)

Glencairn #1: Deep copper — 81.59
Glencairn #2: Very light, honey-amber — 75.62
Glencairn #3: Mid amber — 73.78
Glencairn #4: Light amber — 78.45

The Reveal

Glencairn #1: Cooper’s Craft
Glencairn #2: Rebel 100
Glencairn #3: Old Tub
Glencairn #4: Johnny Drum

The Finish (Final Standings)

Cooper’s Craft – 81.59
Johnny Drum – 78.45
Rebel 100 – 75.62
Old Tub – 73.78

Final Thoughts

I’ve enjoyed the Cooper’s Craft ever since I discovered it last summer, so its win shouldn’t shock anyone—but I didn’t expect it to separate itself quite this clearly. It simply had more going on, especially on the finish, where it consistently outperformed the rest.

I honestly thought Johnny Drum might take the top spot, and while it didn’t, it was still a very enjoyable pour. The other two weren’t bad at all. Scott brought me a couple bottles of Old Tub, and they’ll get finished over the next year without complaint. And Rebel continues to prove that just about everything they make is worth the asking price.

But the hero of Vol. 23 is Cooper’s Craft—again.

My only real complaint? They still don’t sell it here in Florida. Which means when I make my way back to North Carolina this summer, I’ll be stocking up.

That’s the Cheapskate way.