Tag Archives: Bottled-in-Bond

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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The 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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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 6: Battle of the Budget Bottled-in-Bond, Heaven Hill Edition

Posted on September 11, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Sometimes you don’t have to spend $50+ to find a solid pour. Heaven Hill has long offered a lineup of bottled-in-bond bourbons under $20, all sharing the same mash bill (78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley). On paper, they … Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 4: Benchmark’s Five-Bottle Shelf

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

If someone asked me where to start with bourbon—and they only wanted to spend about $100—I’d point them straight to Benchmark. Forget the 80-proofer, but grab the other five bottles in the line, and you’ve got yourself a small whiskey … Continue reading →

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🥃 The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 3: Heaven Hill’s Bottled-in-Bond Family Feud

Posted on August 21, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

At Shores Fine Wine and Spirits near me, Evan Williams Bottled in Bond goes for around $20. Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond 7-Year sits in the middle at about $40–45. And Henry McKenna 10-Year Bottled in Bond commands roughly $65. … Continue reading →

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The Bottled-in-Bond Finale: A Champion, A Challenger, and An Unexpected Twist!

Posted on July 23, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Well, life sometimes gets in the way of whiskey, and our planned championship tasting was delayed by a day. But that small delay brought a moment of sudden clarity: the iconic Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond was missing from our field. To … Continue reading →

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