Tag Archives: benchmark full proof

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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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 43: The DeBolt Dramworks Finished Bourbon Blind

Posted on June 25, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Five affordable bourbons went through finishing experiments — four in a small barrel and one in mason jars with oak staves. In this blind tasting, I find out whether finishing can truly improve cheap-but-good bourbon, or whether the original whiskey always shows through. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 31: Traveller Full Proof vs. The Shelf

Posted on March 5, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A new 121-proof Traveller Full Proof has been drawing mixed reviews online, so I decided to put it to the test the only fair way: blind. Seven high-proof bottles went into identical glasses, including 1792 Full Proof, Knob Creek Single Barrel Cask Strength, and the ever-reliable Benchmark Full Proof. The results were surprising—and a reminder that sometimes the best value on the shelf isn’t the one everyone is talking about. Continue reading →

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