Tag Archives: Buffalo Trace

Tasting Tuesday: When Stagg Crashed the Tasting

Posted on June 9, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

What started as a simple 107-proof comparison in Tennessee turned into something bigger when Old Glory stole the show — until Stagg Batch 25D and George T. Stagg walked into the room. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The Bourbon Hunt Shouldn’t Feel Like a Shakedown

Posted on May 26, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Bourbon hunting should feel like discovery, not a shakedown. Some liquor stores build loyalty with fair prices, good picks and real customer relationships. Others treat bourbon drinkers like walking wallets — and those stores may find out the hard way that we remember. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Two Staggs Walk Into a Glencairn

Posted on May 19, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

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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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 35: The Single Barrel Bargain Brawl

Posted on April 30, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

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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Tasting Tuesday: Rivertown Reserve—When Buffalo Trace Meets the Aging Barrel

Posted on March 3, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I didn’t distill this whiskey. I just gave a solid $22 bottle three weeks in a finishing cask — and it jumped into the top 30 on my shelf. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Same Mashbill, Same Proof, No Safety Net

Posted on January 13, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Four bourbons. Same mashbill. Same proof. All tasted blind. When you strip away the labels and the hype, the differences shrink fast — and what’s left is a lesson in barrels, balance, and just how close great everyday bourbons can be. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 20: Why I’m Writing This (And Who It’s For)

Posted on December 18, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Bourbon was never meant to be elite, hoarded, or ransomed to the highest bidder. It was crafted for regular people, meant to be shared, enjoyed, and woven into real moments. Bourbon Cheapskate exists to find attainable, affordable bourbon that still feels special — not because of the price tag, but because of the memories it helps create. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 18: Walmart vs. Weller (and Friends)

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Walmart has a new $19 bourbon on the shelf, so I threw it into a blind taste test with three other 90-proof bottles from the Buffalo Trace universe: Weller Special Reserve, Benchmark Small Batch, and Members Mark. Only one came out “good,” but all four proved something important about budget bourbon. Here’s how they ranked—and why the results weren’t surprising. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The 95-and-under Elite Eight—Proof, Patience and Unexpected Performances

Posted on November 4, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

The field has been cut in half twice already, and every bottle left has survived at least one blind skirmish to get here. At this stage, there are no flukes, no charity invites, and definitely no freebies. Only eight pours … Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The 95-and-under Sweet Sixteen, Part 2

Posted on October 28, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

If last week’s half of the Sweet Sixteen was a slugfest, this round was more like a master class in contrasts — sweet against spicy, classic profiles versus boundary-pushers. Every pour carried its own story, from the leather-and-vanilla depth of … Continue reading →

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