Tag Archives: Bottled-in-Bond

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 47: A Tale of Two Rittenhouse Ryes

Posted on July 23, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Standard Rittenhouse Bottled-in-Bond Rye is one of the best values on the whiskey shelf. But can the limited 10-year 250th Anniversary release justify costing four times as much? I tasted them side by side, and this one wasn’t close. 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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The Sunday Pour: America Is Still in the Barrel

Posted on July 5, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

America is not a finished bottle sealed on a shelf. She is still in the barrel — marked by fire, shaped by time, changed by sacrifice, and still becoming what the label has always promised. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Hard Truth Sweet Mash Wheated vs. Four Grain

Posted on May 5, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Hard Truth brings some serious sweet mash credibility from Brown County, Indiana. But between the Wheated Bottled in Bond and the Four Grain Bottled in Bond, one bottle gives me more flavor — and more bang for the buck. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 34: Bonded on a Budget—Old Bardstown Faces Two Familiar Rivals

Posted on April 23, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Three low-cost bottled-in-bond bourbons. No stars. No hype. Just a blind test to see where Old Bardstown belongs — and in the end, one bottle quietly separated itself. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 33: Is New Riff Bottled in Bond Really the Best Bourbon in the World?

Posted on April 16, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The 2026 World Whiskies Awards crowned New Riff Bottled in Bond the world’s best bourbon. At $40, it qualifies for Bourbon Cheapskate — but how does it hold up against New Riff’s own 6-year single barrel? Continue reading →

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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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