Category Archives: Bourbon

Tasting Tuesday: Can Attainable Bourbons Beat the Bottles Everyone Chases?

Posted on July 28, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Do harder-to-find bourbons actually taste better? I put five attainable bottles into blind matchups against allocated favorites including Weller Special Reserve, E.H. Taylor, Stagg, Eagle Rare and Blanton’s. Some lived up to the hype. Others did not. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Summer Pour—Why Rest Is Part of the Rhythm

Posted on July 26, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

When summer heat becomes part of the experience, high proof can feel like too much. Sometimes the best pour—and the wisest pace—is the one that fits the season. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 47: A Tale of Two Rittenhouse Ryes

Posted on July 23, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Standard Rittenhouse Bottled-in-Bond Rye is one of the best values on the whiskey shelf. But can the limited 10-year 250th Anniversary release justify costing four times as much? I tasted them side by side, and this one wasn’t close. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Beekeeper vs. Bee’s Knees vs. Green River Honey

Posted on July 21, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Honey-finished bourbon has become one of whiskey’s hottest—and most expensive—trends. I tasted Seelbach’s Beekeeper, Shortbarrel’s Bee’s Knees and Green River Honey blind to see which offered the better pour and the better value. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The First Dilution—When Humility Opens the Pour

Posted on July 19, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A drop of water does not ruin a strong bourbon. Sometimes it reveals what was already there. Humility works the same way, not weakening us, but helping the best notes come forward. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 46: Bourbon Cheapskate: Which Jack Daniel’s Bonded Whiskey Is Best?

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Three Jack Daniel’s Bonded bottles. Three nearly identical price tags. One blind tasting to determine whether Tennessee Whiskey, Rye or Triple Mash offers the best pour for the money. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Jack Daniel’s Rye Blind Tasting—Six Bottles, Two Hazmats and One Clear Winner

Posted on July 14, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Jack Daniel’s may be famous for Tennessee Whiskey, but its rye lineup deserves more respect. I blindly tasted six Jack Daniel’s ryes — including the Straight Rye, Bonded Rye, Single Barrel Rye, Barrel Proof Rye and two Hazmat-level 2026 Special Releases — to see which bottle came out on top. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: Janis Brown in a Bottle

Posted on July 12, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I carried a small Green River jug to the funeral of one of my oldest friends’ mothers. By the end of the reception, we realized the bourbon had followed much the same path she had—and reflected her personality almost perfectly. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 45: Four Bottles, Four Good Pours—When Value Beats Victory

Posted on July 9, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

On the final night of vacation, I opened four bottles from my recent Tennessee-Kentucky whiskey trip. The most expensive bourbon won the tasting—but the least expensive bottle won Bourbon Cheapskate. Sometimes price changes the conversation. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The Real Winner Was the Bag

Posted on July 7, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I packed five bourbons in a four-compartment bag and turned vacation into a blind tasting. Old Glory won the overall title, Evan Williams won the blind, and I learned I know my palate pretty well. Continue reading →

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