Tag Archives: barrel strength

Tasting Tuesday: Same Mashbill, Same Proof, No Safety Net

Posted on January 20, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A blind, head-to-head tasting of Four Roses barrel-strength OBSK and OESO revisits a Kentucky barrel pick and settles which bottle earns the top spot on my shelf — by the slimmest of margins. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday — Jack Daniel’s Three-Way Showdown

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Three of my top-10 whiskeys went head-to-head for Tasting Tuesday: Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Tennessee Whiskey, the toasted-pecan–finished Tennessee Whiskey, and the Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye. Instead of scoring them outright, I judged them category by category — color, nose, palate, complexity, mouthfeel and finish. The results reinforced what my shelf already knew: all three of these are absolute bangers, and the rye still wears the crown. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: Living Life at Barrel Strength

Posted on December 7, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Life doesn’t always come watered down. Some seasons arrive at full proof — hot, honest, and unfiltered — much like a true barrel-strength bourbon. I’ve had my share of those days and years, and I’ve learned that the burn often reveals what’s real. Scripture reminds us that God refines us through these uncut moments, strengthening our faith and shaping what comes next. Today’s pour is a toast to the truth hidden inside the heat. Continue reading →

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