Tag Archives: Bourbon Review

March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—First Round Matchups 13-16

Posted on March 15, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Round of 64, Part Four brought power, precision, and the tightest decision yet. One high seed flexed, one mid-seed edged forward on texture alone, and a razor-thin matchup came down to the final sip. Sixteen battles in, the bracket is beginning to separate depth from decency. Continue reading →

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March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—First Round Matchups 9-12

Posted on March 14, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Round of 64, Part Three delivered another mix of dominance and narrow escapes. One heavy hitter flexed hard, a couple mid-seeds quietly advanced, and texture once again proved to be a deciding factor. Twelve matchups in, the bracket is beginning to reveal who truly belongs. Continue reading →

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March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—First Round Matchups 5-8

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The second wave of the Round of 64 delivered proof-heavy bruisers, subtle upsets, and a few bottles that teased greatness but couldn’t quite carry it through. Eight more contenders went head-to-head in blind format, and four earned their place in the next round. The bracket is tightening—and texture is starting to matter. Continue reading →

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March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—First Round Matchups 1-4

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge kicks off with four blind Round of 64 matchups, where high-proof heavyweights, savory classics, and a few surprises go head-to-head. With labels hidden and scores recorded blind, the opening round delivers decisive wins, tight finishes, and the first clear signs of which bottles are built for a deep bracket run. Continue reading →

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Capnpen’s Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge — 64 Bottles. One Bracket. No Mercy.

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Sixty-four shelf-worthy bottles. One blind-tasting bracket. No labels, no hype, no mercy. The Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge puts my collection head-to-head to find out which bourbon truly earns the top spot—one matchup, one pour, one winner at a time. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 31: Traveller Full Proof vs. The Shelf

Posted on March 5, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A new 121-proof Traveller Full Proof has been drawing mixed reviews online, so I decided to put it to the test the only fair way: blind. Seven high-proof bottles went into identical glasses, including 1792 Full Proof, Knob Creek Single Barrel Cask Strength, and the ever-reliable Benchmark Full Proof. The results were surprising—and a reminder that sometimes the best value on the shelf isn’t the one everyone is talking about. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The Pour I’ve Ignored

Posted on February 17, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The bottle that started it all. Before barrel finishes and 125-proof bruisers, Evan Williams Single Barrel was my “serious bourbon.” Tonight, I revisited the 1998 and 2015 vintages — and discovered that sometimes the value isn’t in the proof… it’s in the memory. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 28: An Accidental Blind Win

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A blind tasting, three familiar 100-proof bottles, and one surprise outcome. When Kentucky Beau went head-to-head with Heaven Hill and Henry McKenna, the cheapest bottle on the bar turned out to be the one that felt just right. Continue reading →

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Tuesday Tasting: Conecuh Ridge Distillery and Clyde May’s

Posted on August 12, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

In today’s tasting, I’m diving into a blind tasting of four bourbons from Conecuh Ridge Distillery and Clyde May’s. These bottles are all from different expressions and age statements, and as I blindly mixed them, I spent a solid 15 … Continue reading →

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