Tag Archives: Bottled-in-Bond

March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—First Round Matchups 13-16

Posted on March 15, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Round of 64, Part Four brought power, precision, and the tightest decision yet. One high seed flexed, one mid-seed edged forward on texture alone, and a razor-thin matchup came down to the final sip. Sixteen battles in, the bracket is beginning to separate depth from decency. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 30: Bonded vs. Single Barrel: When Blind Tasting Picks the Underdog

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

In a blind rye showdown, Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye unexpectedly outpaced its 94-proof Single Barrel sibling. Side by side, the Single Barrel may have a slight edge in refinement—but when you factor in a $20 price gap, the bonded bottle makes one of the strongest value arguments on the shelf. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 29: Wolcott Bonded: Worth the Gamble?

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Spirits Direct makes me cautious. Barton has me skeptical. But at $35, Wolcott Bottled-in-Bond might be a Bourbon Cheapskate worth keeping on the shelf — especially when stacked against its 125-proof sibling. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 28: An Accidental Blind Win

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A blind tasting, three familiar 100-proof bottles, and one surprise outcome. When Kentucky Beau went head-to-head with Heaven Hill and Henry McKenna, the cheapest bottle on the bar turned out to be the one that felt just right. 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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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. 16: Early Times Bottled-in-Bond Proves Price Isn’t Everything

Posted on November 20, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Early Times Bottled-in-Bond is one of the best values in bourbon—an honest, old-school, $15–$25 liter that regularly beats bottles twice its price. With rich peanut and cinnamon notes, a warm caramel-apple palate, and a surprisingly solid finish, this everyday sipper proves that great bourbon doesn’t have to cost a fortune. 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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🥃 Sunday Pour: Bottled in Bond – Faith at 100 Proof

Posted on October 5, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

The first cool hints of fall have finally arrived, and tonight’s pour feels just right — something steady, strong, and rooted in history. There’s a comfort in uncorking a bottle that carries not just flavor, but legacy. Some pours invite … Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Bottle We Keep vs. the Bottle We Share

Posted on September 14, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Every bourbon lover has a “do not touch” shelf. It’s the bottle with a story—the one we reach for on anniversaries, homecomings, or nights when life needs punctuation. I’ve got a couple like that. They remind me that some things … Continue reading →

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