Tag Archives: budget bourbon

Tasting Tuesday: Jack Daniel’s “Rye-off”

Posted on February 10, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Three expressions. One distillery. Jack Daniel’s rye lineup isn’t about winners and losers, but about how proof, barrel selection, and structure shape the final pour. From the budget-friendly Bonded Rye to the indulgent Barrel Proof, this is a side-by-side look at what makes each bottle distinct — and why all three earn their place on the shelf. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 27: The Bottle I Bought Out of Guilt (and Loved)

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Sometimes the bottles we buy out of guilt turn out to be the biggest surprises. A $40 impulse buy and a $24 bottom-shelfer shocked me in a blind tasting — and one of them beat bottles that cost a lot more. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 25: Rebel Single Barrel (Kyle Busch Edition)

Posted on January 22, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I didn’t expect to love a bourbon tied to a driver I never rooted for—but Rebel’s Kyle Busch Single Barrel proved that a little rowdy can still come with a whole lot of sweet. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 24: The Bourbon That Refuses to Apologize

Posted on January 15, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

At $32–35, Old Grand-Dad 114 delivers a depth, mouthfeel, and finish that linger far longer than the price tag. Bold, honest, and unapologetic, it has earned the top spot on my Bourbon Cheapskate shelf—not by pretending to be more than it is, but by executing exactly what it promises. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 23: Proof Positive

Posted on January 8, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Four bourbons. Three bottled at 100 proof and one at 101. Prices ranging from $25 to $45. No labels, no expectations—just four randomized pours and an honest blind tasting. A few surprises, one clear winner, and a reminder that sometimes the best bourbon on the table is the quiet sleeper you almost overlook. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 22: The Best of $40 and Under (New Year’s Edition)

Posted on January 1, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Great bourbon doesn’t have to be expensive. These are the bottles that proved it in 2025—my Top 10 bourbons under $40, plus the best values under $30, $25, and even $20. No hype, no gimmicks—just bottles that consistently punched above their price and earned permanent shelf space. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 15: When $30 Beats $70 — A Blind Surprise at 120 Proof

Posted on November 13, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

When you can find barrel-proof bourbon under $40, it’s hard not to get curious. So I blinded Wolcott Rickhouse Reserve (a 120-proof Total Wine “Spirits Direct” bottle) against three bourbons I already enjoy and that fall within a tight proof … Continue reading →

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