Tag Archives: alcohol

Tasting Tuesday: The Rye Showdown — Final Four and Championship

Posted on September 2, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

After weeks of blind pours and unexpected twists, the Rye Challenge has come down to the Final Four. What started as a broad field of contenders has been whittled down to just four glasses — three of them from Jack … Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The Rye Showdown — Round Two

Posted on August 26, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Round one was full of surprises — and not always the pleasant kind. A couple of bottles showed some rough edges, and one rye in particular left me wondering if something had gone sideways in the glass. But that’s the … Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The Rye Showdown Begins — The Play-In Round

Posted on August 19, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

It’s bracket season on the blog — but instead of basketball, it’s rye whiskey. I’ve rounded up 11 ryes from my shelf and set them against each other in a blind-tasting tournament. Over the next three weeks, they’ll battle head-to-head … Continue reading →

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Four Legends, Four Drams: A Blind Tasting in Tribute

Posted on July 24, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

It’s hard to process when the icons who shaped your youth begin to fade—and harder still when they seem to fall in such short order. Today, I’m raising a glass in honor of four men who, in their own ways, … Continue reading →

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The Bottled-in-Bond Showdown: The Elite Eight

Posted on July 20, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

The field has been narrowed, and the stakes are higher. After a competitive play-in round saw Jack Daniel’s Bonded and the formidable George Dickel 13-year advance, our Elite Eight is officially set. Today, the intensity ramps up as we cut … Continue reading →

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The Bottled-in-Bond Challenge Begins: The Play-In Round

Posted on July 17, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

The journey has begun! After seeding ten outstanding Bottled-in-Bond bourbons, it’s time for the first taste-off. To narrow the field down to our Elite Eight, the four lowest-seeded contenders must first battle it out in a play-in round. This sets … Continue reading →

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Capnpen’s Ultimate Sip Challenge 2025: Rounds 5 and 6 – The Final Four and Championship

Posted on July 13, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

So, this is it. What started with 64 whiskeys more than a month ago is finally down to four final contenders. These aren’t necessarily the four best whiskeys in the field, but each one represents excellence within its field (or … Continue reading →

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Capnpen’s Ultimate Sip Challenge 2025: Round 4 – The Elite Eight (Drams)

Posted on July 10, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

This is almost the end, and I’m kind of happy about that, but also a little unhappy. I’ve enjoyed sampling most of the bottles on my shelf, and I’ve also enjoyed developing my nose and palate for the best type … Continue reading →

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Capnpen’s Ultimate Sip Challenge 2025: Round 3 – The Very Sweet Sixteen, Part 2

Posted on July 8, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

We’re getting very close to the end of our inaugural Ultimate Sip Challenge, and you’re probably picking up a clear theme in my preferred flavor profile. Three of the first four quarterfinalists are named “Old Forester,” and the other one … Continue reading →

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Capnpen’s Ultimate Sip Challenge 2025: Round 3 – The Very Sweet Sixteen, Part 1

Posted on July 6, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Two rounds are down, and we’ve left 48 bourbons – ranging from decent to amazing – sitting on the shelf. Still in play are 16 excellent bourbons (well, 13 bourbons and three Tennessee Whiskeys) that are vying for the inaugural … Continue reading →

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