Category Archives: The Sunday Pour

The Sunday Pour is where whiskey meets reflection. From the bottles on the shelf to the memories, friendships and lessons that come with them, this weekly feature explores the culture and enjoyment of bourbon beyond tasting notes and scores. Sometimes thoughtful, sometimes humorous, and always best enjoyed at a leisurely pace.

The Sunday Pour: Blind Is Brutal

Posted on November 8, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Labels disappear, reputations vanish and sometimes expensive bottles get embarrassed. An 11-bottle double-oaked bourbon blind tasting reveals surprising results and a biblical lesson about judging by appearances. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Best Bourbon I Never Bought Again

Posted on November 1, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Some bourbons are excellent but aren’t worth buying twice. From Henry McKenna’s rising price to Old Forester Birthday Bourbon’s astronomical resale value, sometimes reputation costs more than the whiskey is worth. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Very Scary Proofs

Posted on October 25, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

What makes a bourbon too dangerous to fly? This Halloween week, three HAZMAT whiskeys offer a surprising lesson about pleasure, temptation and knowing when to surrender control—and to whom. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: When Good Bourbon Becomes Ordinary

Posted on October 18, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

As our bourbon collections grow and our palates become more sophisticated, do we risk losing our appreciation for everyday whiskey? This week, The Sunday Pour explores the difference between evaluating bourbon and enjoying it, the lessons of the Bourbon Cheapskate, and what the Apostle Paul teaches us about contentment. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Bottle I Was Wrong About

Posted on October 11, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Was I wrong about Benchmark bourbon? I revisited six bottles, from Full Proof to Top Floor, to see whether my opinions had changed. The scores improved, but the conclusions remained remarkably consistent. Along the way, I discovered a spiritual lesson about humility, honest self-examination and the willingness to admit when we’re wrong. And there’s an unexpected ending involving my stepson and six bottles of whiskey. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: My Palate Has a Type

Posted on October 4, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

My bourbon palate has a definite type: dessert in a glass, with chocolate, caramel, cherries, vanilla and a thick, viscous mouthfeel. But the more interesting question is what our preferences reveal about us. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Bottle I Keep Reaching Past

Posted on September 27, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Some bourbon bottles get forgotten because they’re buried on the shelf. Others are passed over on purpose. A rediscovered bottle of Uncharted and a Dancing Panda saved for Sully’s birthday raise a bigger question: What deserves to be rediscovered, and what is worth waiting for? Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Pour Before the Next Season

Posted on September 20, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Fall may arrive quietly in Florida, but the season changes all the same. A Sunday pour offers a moment to slow down, look back and consider what we carry with us into what comes next. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The First Sip Revisited—How Our Tastes Change Over Time

Posted on September 13, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

What once tasted remarkable may seem simple years later. As our palate changes, so can our understanding of faith, Scripture and spiritual maturity. 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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