Category Archives: Bourbon

The Bourbon Rye Cheapskate, Vol. 53: 3 Affordable Rye Whiskeys Compared

Posted on September 10, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Which affordable rye gives you the most for your money? Benchmark, Jack Daniel’s and Middle West face off on flavor, price and Cheapskate value. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The Redemption Bourbon Veronica Mars Made Me Buy

Posted on September 8, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A television bourbon sighting sent me hunting for Redemption 10-Year. I couldn’t find it, but Redemption 9-Year Barrel Proof turned out to be a complex, mature pour worth slowing down for. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: When Expectations Change the Pour

Posted on September 6, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A label, price tag or reputation can shape a bourbon before we ever taste it. Expectations can do the same thing in faith, relationships and life. Continue reading →

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Southern Sports Stillhouse: Rebels, Tigers and a Whole Lot of Old Forester

Posted on September 4, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Rebel Small Batch Reserve and Old Forester 1924 set the stage for Louisville vs. Ole Miss, our Game of the Week. Scott and I also make picks for nine other major college football matchups, with a bourbon break and final sip along the way. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 52: Seven Homemade Whiskeys Go Blind

Posted on September 3, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Five barrel-aged experiments. Two homemade blends. Seven numbered samples. I tasted them all blind to find out which homemade whiskey really deserved the top spot. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Booker’s 25-03 Beats Four Staggs in a Blind Tasting

Posted on September 1, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Booker’s 25-03 stole the show in a blind tasting of eight high-proof bourbons, finishing ahead of four Staggs while Booker’s 25-04 landed in last place. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Return to the Barstool—What Familiar Places Teach Us About Growth

Posted on August 30, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

We return to familiar places expecting comfort, but sometimes they show us something more important: how much we’ve changed. The old barstool may still be there, but we may belong for a different reason—or realize we no longer belong at all. Continue reading →

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And This Time I Mean It: My Bourbon Aging Hobby

Posted on August 29, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Bourbon is fun, tasty and expensive enough on its own. Then I started aging whiskey in a small oak cask, and the hobby became an experiment in oak, time and temptation. Continue reading →

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Southern Sports Stillhouse: College Football, Bourbon & Week 0 Picks

Posted on August 29, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Welcome to the Southern Sports Stillhouse, where two American favorites—college football and bourbon—share the same bar. For our inaugural edition, we pour Linkumpinch Single Barrel Cask Strength, break down TCU vs. North Carolina in Dublin, and make picks for every game on the Week 0 slate. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 51: Seven Bottles, One Blind, and a Few Surprises

Posted on August 27, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Seven bourbons. Proofs from 107 to 114. Prices from $35 to $65. The winner wasn’t a shock, but several bottles dramatically changed my opinion once the labels disappeared. Continue reading →

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