Tag Archives: Finished Bourbon

Tasting Tuesday: Penelope Project X Armagnac Finished Bourbon — An Experiment Worth Trying?

Posted on November 3, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Penelope’s 2026 Project X Armagnac-finished bourbon brings crème brûlée, buttery toffee, custard and cinnamon to the glass. But is it worth $70–$80? I found a bottle at Costco for $59.99 and put barrel 2525-2 to the test. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Beekeeper vs. Bee’s Knees vs. Green River Honey

Posted on July 21, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Honey-finished bourbon has become one of whiskey’s hottest—and most expensive—trends. I tasted Seelbach’s Beekeeper, Shortbarrel’s Bee’s Knees and Green River Honey blind to see which offered the better pour and the better value. 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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Tasting Tuesday: Nine Bourbons, Extra Oak, and One Familiar Winner

Posted on April 7, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Nine bourbons with extra wood influence—double oak, triple oak, quad oak, cask finishing, and one personal experiment—went head to head in a blind tasting. A few surprises emerged, one bottle overperformed, and one familiar favorite proved again why it remains one of the best finished bourbons on my shelf. 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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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 26: Turning a $22 Bottle Into a Top-Shelf Pour

Posted on January 29, 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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