Tag Archives: blind

Tasting Tuesday: A Maker’s Mark Triple Threat

Posted on December 16, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Standard Maker’s Mark vs. Maker’s Mark 46 vs. Maker’s Mark Heart Release 2024 This week’s Tasting Tuesday is a battle of three familiar names from the same family tree: Maker’s Mark (standard) Maker’s Mark 46 Maker’s Mark Heart Release 2024 … Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 19: Old Grand-Dad Showdown — Bonded vs. 7-Year vs. 114

Posted on December 11, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Today’s Bourbon Cheapskate pits three Old Grand-Dad expressions against each other — the classic Bottled-in-Bond, the resurrected 7-Year Bonded, and the crowd-favorite 114. I broke the blind tasting down category by category, and the results surprised me. I thought the 114 was the runaway favorite… until the 7-year started quietly flexing its muscles. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 18: Walmart vs. Weller (and Friends)

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Walmart has a new $19 bourbon on the shelf, so I threw it into a blind taste test with three other 90-proof bottles from the Buffalo Trace universe: Weller Special Reserve, Benchmark Small Batch, and Members Mark. Only one came out “good,” but all four proved something important about budget bourbon. Here’s how they ranked—and why the results weren’t surprising. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: A Fresh Look at the Benchmark Five

Posted on December 2, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

This week’s Tasting Tuesday revisits the full five-bottle Benchmark lineup as I continue re-evaluating every bourbon on my shelf — now down to 36 left. My palate has changed, the scores have shifted, and a few surprises emerged, but Benchmark still stands as one of the best value introductions to bourbon you can buy. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 17: Thanksgiving Surprises on the Shelf

Posted on November 27, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

I walked into BJ’s looking for a turkey. I walked out with two bourbons I didn’t know I needed. Thanksgiving miracles come in all forms—and sometimes they’re 116 proof. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Apple Wood, Toasted Oak and a Surprise Standout

Posted on November 25, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Tonight’s Tasting Tuesday features three bottles newly added to my shelf re-ranking project as I prepare for next year’s 64-bottle March Madness showdown. Company Distilling, Daviess County, and Noah’s Mill all bring something different to the table—but only one emerged as the clear standout of the night. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 14: Battle of the $20 Bottled-in-Bond Bourbons

Posted on November 6, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Four classic budget BiBs go head-to-head in a category-by-category showdown. Benchmark, Early Times, J.W. Dant, and J.T.S. Brown all deliver way above their price—but only one wins the bourbon cheapskate challenge. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The 95-and-under Sweet Sixteen, Part 2

Posted on October 28, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

If last week’s half of the Sweet Sixteen was a slugfest, this round was more like a master class in contrasts — sweet against spicy, classic profiles versus boundary-pushers. Every pour carried its own story, from the leather-and-vanilla depth of … Continue reading →

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Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 12: Bottled Bargains—Member’s Mark Bottled-in-Bond Takes on Its Kin

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Back on September 25, I reviewed Member’s Mark Small Batch, a Sam’s Club exclusive that impressed me with its flavor-to-price ratio at just $18.95. Now the warehouse giant has added a Member’s Mark Bottled-in-Bond expression — also priced at $18.95 … Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The 95-and-under Sweet Sixteen Begins

Posted on October 21, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

After eight rounds of blind tastings, we’ve reached the business end of the 95-and-Under Challenge — the Sweet Sixteen. What started as a crowded field of affordable contenders has now tightened into a serious competition, with heavy hitters like Old … Continue reading →

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