Tag Archives: bourbon comparison

Tasting Tuesday: Booker’s 25-03 Beats Four Staggs in a Blind Tasting

Posted on September 1, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Booker’s 25-03 stole the show in a blind tasting of eight high-proof bourbons, finishing ahead of four Staggs while Booker’s 25-04 landed in last place. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 49: The Best Wheated Bourbon in a 15-Bottle Blind (Plus a Cheapskate Champion)

Posted on August 13, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Fifteen wheated bourbons entered the blind, but only six reached the championship. Old Elk took the title, Hard Truth finished second, and Maker’s Mark 46 proved to be the best value. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The Great Wheated Bourbon Blind—Round Three

Posted on August 11, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Round Three produced the biggest surprise yet. Ragged Branch posted the highest score of the preliminary blind, while the Hard Truth bottle I nearly forgot also reached the championship. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 48: The Great Wheated Bourbon Blind—Round Two

Posted on August 6, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Round Two delivered another surprise as Maker’s Mark 46 won the group, Old Elk advanced and Green River Wheated Full Proof missed the championship by just one-tenth of a point. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The Great Wheated Bourbon Blind—Round One

Posted on August 4, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Fifteen wheated bourbons entered the blind, but only six will reach the championship. Round One produced two finalists—and eliminated Weller Antique 107 and a Larceny Barrel Proof I poured myself at Heaven Hill. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 42: Old Grand-Dad 114 vs. Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel

Posted on June 18, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Old Grand-Dad 114 has long been one of bourbon’s great value bottles. But is the harder-to-find Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel worth the chase and the extra $15? A blind side-by-side tasting gave me a pretty clear answer. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Two Staggs Walk Into a Glencairn

Posted on May 19, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Scott gave me a bottle of Stagg 24C, and I treated it like a miser guarding a gemstone. Then he gave me a 25C, and it was finally time to let the two bottles lock antlers. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Knob Creek, Three Ways

Posted on May 12, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Knob Creek’s Blender’s Edition No. 1 promises a sweeter side of the classic Beam profile. I put it in a blind tasting against Knob Creek 9-Year and a 125-proof cask strength single barrel store pick to see where it landed. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Same Mashbill, Same Proof, No Safety Net

Posted on January 20, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A blind, head-to-head tasting of Four Roses barrel-strength OBSK and OESO revisits a Kentucky barrel pick and settles which bottle earns the top spot on my shelf — by the slimmest of margins. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Same Mashbill, Same Proof, No Safety Net

Posted on January 13, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Four bourbons. Same mashbill. Same proof. All tasted blind. When you strip away the labels and the hype, the differences shrink fast — and what’s left is a lesson in barrels, balance, and just how close great everyday bourbons can be. Continue reading →

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