Tag Archives: Bourbon Review

Tasting Tuesday: Penelope Project X Armagnac Finished Bourbon — An Experiment Worth Trying?

Posted on November 3, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Penelope’s 2026 Project X Armagnac-finished bourbon brings crème brûlée, buttery toffee, custard and cinnamon to the glass. But is it worth $70–$80? I found a bottle at Costco for $59.99 and put barrel 2525-2 to the test. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Three Penelope Bourbons Go Head-to-Head

Posted on October 6, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Three Penelope bourbons. One blind tasting. Bartender’s Reserve, Barrel Strength Four-Grain and Marshmallow Toast went head-to-head — and the bottle that sounded most like my palate didn’t win. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The Redemption Bourbon Veronica Mars Made Me Buy

Posted on September 8, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A television bourbon sighting sent me hunting for Redemption 10-Year. I couldn’t find it, but Redemption 9-Year Barrel Proof turned out to be a complex, mature pour worth slowing down for. Continue reading →

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Southern Sports Stillhouse: College Football, Bourbon & Week 0 Picks

Posted on August 29, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Welcome to the Southern Sports Stillhouse, where two American favorites—college football and bourbon—share the same bar. For our inaugural edition, we pour Linkumpinch Single Barrel Cask Strength, break down TCU vs. North Carolina in Dublin, and make picks for every game on the Week 0 slate. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: High Proof, Higher Stakes

Posted on August 25, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

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

Posted on July 30, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

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

Posted on July 21, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

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

Posted on July 2, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

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

Posted on June 23, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

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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