Tag Archives: Blind Tasting

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 55: Double-Oaked Challenge Quarterfinals

Posted on September 24, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The Double-Oaked Challenge reaches the Elite Eight. Eight blind pours become four semifinalists, and the top three seeds are all eliminated. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Double-Oaked Challenge — Round of 16, Part Two

Posted on September 22, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Eight more whiskeys enter the Sweet 16 blind. Four advance, one upset shakes the bracket, and the Elite Eight is set. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 54: Double-Oaked Challenge — Round of 16, Part One

Posted on September 17, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The Double-Oaked Challenge reaches the Round of 16. Eight whiskeys go blind, four head-to-head matchups decide who survives, and one upset shakes the bracket. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Double-Oaked Challenge Play-In Round

Posted on September 15, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The Double-Oaked Challenge begins with eight bottles fighting for four spots in the Round of 16. Blind tasting, head-to-head matchups and four survivors. 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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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 50: Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve Review—A Blind-Tasting Surprise

Posted on August 20, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I remembered enjoying Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve, but memory and labels can lie. So I put the inexpensive Canadian whisky into an eight-bottle blind tasting against several familiar American whiskies and let my palate decide. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Chestnut Farms vs. 1792 Full Proof—A Five-Bourbon Blind Tasting

Posted on August 18, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A Total Wine recommendation convinced me to spend $129 on Chestnut Farms Single Barrel. Then I did some research. So I put it blind against two 1792 Full Proofs, an Elijah Craig store pick and E.H. Taylor Small Batch to find out whether I had actually gotten my money’s worth. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Unlabeled Bottle

Posted on August 2, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

An unlabeled bottle strips away reputation, price, and expectation. Blind tasting reveals what is really there—and so does careful discernment when we look beyond the labels people wear. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 48: Breaking the Rules With Green River

Posted on July 30, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Bourbon Cheapskate usually stays below $40, but Green River may be worth breaking the rules. I blind-tasted six releases to see which offered the best combination of flavor, proof and price. 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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