Tag Archives: Evan Williams

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 44: Five Evan Williams America 250 Barrels, One Bourbon

Posted on July 2, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Five bottles. One bourbon. Identical proof, nearly identical age and the same mash bill. So why did one barrel clearly outperform the others? A blind tasting of five Evan Williams America 250 releases reveals just how much difference a single barrel can make. Continue reading →

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Best of the Bourbon Trail Trip, Part Two: Speakeasies, Unicorn Pours and the Seven Bottles That Came Home

Posted on June 16, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Continued from Monday. Friday was our unscheduled day, which turned out to be a dangerous thing. Sometimes an unscheduled day becomes wasted time. Sometimes it becomes the day you stumble into the best moment of the trip. We started by … Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 38: The Patriot Takes the Field

Posted on May 21, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

In a blind single-barrel showdown against Pinhook, Old Forester, and Green River, Evan Williams America 250 Barrel 222 had every reason to be the underdog. Instead, it planted a flag. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Quiet Season

Posted on May 17, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Some seasons feel stagnant because nothing obvious is changing. But roots grow underground, whiskey matures in the dark, and God often does His deepest work where no one can see it. 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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Open Letter to Heaven Hill Distilleries: Don’t Promise What the Shelf Can’t Deliver

Posted on April 10, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Two recent Evan Williams releases — one patriotic, one collegiate — have bourbon drinkers asking a simple question: if the bottle is announced nationally, why can’t anyone actually find it? Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: 95-and-Under Challenge, Blinds 5 & 6

Posted on October 7, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

We’re getting deeper into the 95-and-under bracket, and the pattern’s starting to show itself. The higher-proof matchups in earlier rounds had punch and character; this stretch is proving how tricky it can be for a lower-proof bourbon to keep the … Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 6: Battle of the Budget Bottled-in-Bond, Heaven Hill Edition

Posted on September 11, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Sometimes you don’t have to spend $50+ to find a solid pour. Heaven Hill has long offered a lineup of bottled-in-bond bourbons under $20, all sharing the same mash bill (78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley). On paper, they … Continue reading →

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The Bottled-in-Bond Showdown: The Elite Eight

Posted on July 20, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

The field has been narrowed, and the stakes are higher. After a competitive play-in round saw Jack Daniel’s Bonded and the formidable George Dickel 13-year advance, our Elite Eight is officially set. Today, the intensity ramps up as we cut … Continue reading →

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The Bottled-in-Bond Challenge Begins: The Play-In Round

Posted on July 17, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

The journey has begun! After seeding ten outstanding Bottled-in-Bond bourbons, it’s time for the first taste-off. To narrow the field down to our Elite Eight, the four lowest-seeded contenders must first battle it out in a play-in round. This sets … Continue reading →

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