Tag Archives: bourbon cheapskate

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 51: Seven Bottles, One Blind, and a Few Surprises

Seven bourbons. Proofs from 107 to 114. Prices from $35 to $65. The winner wasn’t a shock, but several bottles dramatically changed my opinion once the labels disappeared. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: High Proof, Higher Stakes

Five high-proof whiskeys go head-to-head in a blind tasting, including Booker’s, Stagg, Company, Old Glory and Chestnut Farms Single Barrel. The most expensive bottle has something to prove. Continue reading →

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

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. 47: A Tale of Two Rittenhouse Ryes

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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Tasting Tuesday: Beekeeper vs. Bee’s Knees vs. Green River Honey

Honey-finished bourbon has become one of whiskey’s hottest—and most expensive—trends. I tasted Seelbach’s Beekeeper, Shortbarrel’s Bee’s Knees and Green River Honey blind to see which offered the better pour and the better value. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 45: Four Bottles, Four Good Pours—When Value Beats Victory

On the final night of vacation, I opened four bottles from my recent Tennessee-Kentucky whiskey trip. The most expensive bourbon won the tasting—but the least expensive bottle won Bourbon Cheapskate. Sometimes price changes the conversation. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 44: Five Evan Williams America 250 Barrels, One Bourbon

Five bottles. One bourbon. Identical proof, nearly identical age and the same mash bill. So why did one barrel clearly outperform the others? A blind tasting of five Evan Williams America 250 releases reveals just how much difference a single barrel can make. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Jefferson’s Reserve Limited Edition Cask Strength

Jefferson’s Ocean has always felt to me like standard bourbon with a cruise ticket attached to the price. But Jefferson’s Reserve Limited Edition Cask Strength changed the conversation completely — rich, syrupy, cinnamon-laced and loaded with red fruit, caramel and oak. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 41: Barrel-Finished Early Times Bottled-in-Bond Takes Flight

My fourth barrel fill, Early Times Bottled-in-Bond, became “Free Bird” after three months in the finishing barrel. The result? More color, richer fruit, better mouthfeel and a budget bourbon that earned a special place on the shelf. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 40: A Rye Blind Across the Phone Line

Scott and I tried an over-the-phone blind tasting of affordable rye whiskeys. The lineups were not identical, but the conclusion was surprisingly clear: Old Forester 100 Rye stood above the budget rye crowd. Continue reading →

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