Tag Archives: Bourbon Review

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

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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Best of the Bourbon Trail Trip, Part Three: The Eight Bottles That Made It Home

Eight whiskeys came home from the trip. Two blind flights later, there were no bad choices — but one Tennessee single barrel rose above the rest. 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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Tasting Tuesday: A Bourbon Death Roll for the Gator Faithful

Florida Victorious gave Gator fans two bourbons worth chasing: Death Roll and 4th Char. One brings the bigger bite, the other works as an everyday pour, and both belong at an orange-and-blue tailgate. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 39: When a $69 Bottle Sneaks Into the Cheapskate Lane

Baker’s 7 usually sits above the Bourbon Cheapskate price range, but a $39 sale put it right in the lane. So I poured two different bottles blind — one aged seven years and three months, the other eight years and six months — to see whether the extra time made a difference. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 38: The Patriot Takes the Field

In a blind single-barrel showdown against Pinhook, Old Forester, and Green River, Evan Williams America 250 Barrel 222 had every reason to be the underdog. Instead, it planted a flag. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Two Staggs Walk Into a Glencairn

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

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: Hard Truth Sweet Mash Wheated vs. Four Grain

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. 35: The Single Barrel Bargain Brawl

Four value-friendly single barrels go head to head: Evan Williams 86.6, Benchmark Single Barrel, Member’s Mark Single Barrel and Evan Williams America 250. Some are decent. One is an outrageous bargain. And one makes me wonder why Heaven Hill hasn’t already given us a higher-proof Evan Williams Single Barrel as a regular release. Continue reading →

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