Tag Archives: bourbon tasting

Tasting Tuesday: Three Whiskeys, Three First Impressions

Posted on November 10, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Three impressive whiskeys, three scores separated by just 0.76 points. Chattanooga Experimental V1A brings unusual sweet and savory flavors, Jack Daniel’s Sweet Mash delivers its signature character, and Lux Row Four-Grain Double-Single Barrel emerges as a March Madness contender. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Sixty Years, Four Bourbons and a Birthday Worth Pouring

Posted on October 27, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Turning 60 calls for something special. This Tasting Tuesday, I’m celebrating with four premium bourbons: Calumet Farm 12-Year, Russell’s Reserve Private Barrel Selection, The Saint and Florida Colonel. Four outstanding pours, two incredibly close finishes, and one memorable birthday. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Very Scary Proofs

Posted on October 25, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

What makes a bourbon too dangerous to fly? This Halloween week, three HAZMAT whiskeys offer a surprising lesson about pleasure, temptation and knowing when to surrender control—and to whom. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 57: A Return Visit With Old Grand-Dad

Posted on October 8, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Ten months and countless bourbon tastings later, I’m revisiting two of my Bourbon Cheapskate favorites: Old Grand-Dad 114 and Old Grand-Dad 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond. Have my tastes changed? Were my original scores too generous? Or do these affordable bourbons still deserve their places on my shelf? It’s time for a rematch. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: My Palate Has a Type

Posted on October 4, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

My bourbon palate has a definite type: dessert in a glass, with chocolate, caramel, cherries, vanilla and a thick, viscous mouthfeel. But the more interesting question is what our preferences reveal about us. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Double-Oaked Challenge — Final Four and Championship

Posted on September 29, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Four whiskeys remain in the Double-Oaked Challenge. Two Bondstones reach the championship, and the winner is decided by a narrow 4-3 head-to-head battle. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 55: Double-Oaked Challenge Quarterfinals

Posted on September 24, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The Double-Oaked Challenge reaches the Elite Eight. Eight blind pours become four semifinalists, and the top three seeds are all eliminated. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Double-Oaked Challenge — Round of 16, Part Two

Posted on September 22, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Eight more whiskeys enter the Sweet 16 blind. Four advance, one upset shakes the bracket, and the Elite Eight is set. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 54: Double-Oaked Challenge — Round of 16, Part One

Posted on September 17, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The Double-Oaked Challenge reaches the Round of 16. Eight whiskeys go blind, four head-to-head matchups decide who survives, and one upset shakes the bracket. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Double-Oaked Challenge Play-In Round

Posted on September 15, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The Double-Oaked Challenge begins with eight bottles fighting for four spots in the Round of 16. Blind tasting, head-to-head matchups and four survivors. Continue reading →

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