Tag Archives: high proof bourbon

Tasting Tuesday: Booker’s 25-03 Beats Four Staggs in a Blind Tasting

Posted on September 1, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Booker’s 25-03 stole the show in a blind tasting of eight high-proof bourbons, finishing ahead of four Staggs while Booker’s 25-04 landed in last place. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 51: Seven Bottles, One Blind, and a Few Surprises

Posted on August 27, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Seven bourbons. Proofs from 107 to 114. Prices from $35 to $65. The winner wasn’t a shock, but several bottles dramatically changed my opinion once the labels disappeared. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: High Proof, Higher Stakes

Posted on August 25, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Five high-proof whiskeys go head-to-head in a blind tasting, including Booker’s, Stagg, Company, Old Glory and Chestnut Farms Single Barrel. The most expensive bottle has something to prove. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The First Dilution—When Humility Opens the Pour

Posted on July 19, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A drop of water does not ruin a strong bourbon. Sometimes it reveals what was already there. Humility works the same way, not weakening us, but helping the best notes come forward. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 42: Old Grand-Dad 114 vs. Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel

Posted on June 18, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Old Grand-Dad 114 has long been one of bourbon’s great value bottles. But is the harder-to-find Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel worth the chase and the extra $15? A blind side-by-side tasting gave me a pretty clear answer. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 24: The Bourbon That Refuses to Apologize

Posted on January 15, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

At $32–35, Old Grand-Dad 114 delivers a depth, mouthfeel, and finish that linger far longer than the price tag. Bold, honest, and unapologetic, it has earned the top spot on my Bourbon Cheapskate shelf—not by pretending to be more than it is, but by executing exactly what it promises. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The 141-Proof Surprise Hiding in Plain Sight

Posted on January 6, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A hole-in-the-wall Nashville distillery. A bottle with no UPC code. And a 141.2-proof bourbon so intense it was literally illegal to fly home with. This Tasting Tuesday introduces one of the most surprising and unforgettable pours from our summer whiskey road trip. Continue reading →

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