Tag Archives: cask strength bourbon

March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Final Four and Championship

Posted on April 6, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The bracket comes down to depth versus dessert. Far Better outlasts a loaded field with layered complexity and a finish that simply wouldn’t quit, edging Toasted Pecan in a category-by-category championship battle. Sixty-four bottles entered. One remained. Continue reading →

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March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—First Round Matchups 17-20

Posted on March 17, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Round of 64, Part Five may have delivered the most explosive top seed performance yet. A dominant #2 reminded everyone why it earned its place, while two mid-seeds fought tooth and nail in tightly contested battles. At this stage, thin mouthfeel is a death sentence—and balance is beginning to separate contenders from pretenders. Continue reading →

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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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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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