Tag Archives: early times bottled in bond

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 52: Seven Homemade Whiskeys Go Blind

Posted on September 3, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Five barrel-aged experiments. Two homemade blends. Seven numbered samples. I tasted them all blind to find out which homemade whiskey really deserved the top spot. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 43: The DeBolt Dramworks Finished Bourbon Blind

Posted on June 25, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Five affordable bourbons went through finishing experiments — four in a small barrel and one in mason jars with oak staves. In this blind tasting, I find out whether finishing can truly improve cheap-but-good bourbon, or whether the original whiskey always shows through. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 41: Barrel-Finished Early Times Bottled-in-Bond Takes Flight

Posted on June 11, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

My fourth barrel fill, Early Times Bottled-in-Bond, became “Free Bird” after three months in the finishing barrel. The result? More color, richer fruit, better mouthfeel and a budget bourbon that earned a special place on the shelf. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 32: Four Budget Bourbons, One Pecan Experiment

Posted on April 9, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

What happens when four sub-$30 bourbons spend nine hours with toasted pecan wood? A simple experiment produced four very different results — and proved once again that affordable bottles can be surprisingly flexible. Continue reading →

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