Tag Archives: kentucky bourbon

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 48: Breaking the Rules With Green River

Posted on July 30, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Bourbon Cheapskate usually stays below $40, but Green River may be worth breaking the rules. I blind-tasted six releases to see which offered the best combination of flavor, proof and price. Continue reading →

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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 One: Rickhouses, Barrel Picks and One Very Questionable Motel 6

Posted on June 15, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The first half of our Bourbon Trail trip brought the Stateline Whiskey Tour, barrel picks, rickhouse pours, Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel, Green River, Beam, Wild Turkey, Heaven Hill — and one Motel 6 that may still owe us an apology. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 39: When a $69 Bottle Sneaks Into the Cheapskate Lane

Posted on May 28, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Baker’s 7 usually sits above the Bourbon Cheapskate price range, but a $39 sale put it right in the lane. So I poured two different bottles blind — one aged seven years and three months, the other eight years and six months — to see whether the extra time made a difference. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 34: Bonded on a Budget—Old Bardstown Faces Two Familiar Rivals

Posted on April 23, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Three low-cost bottled-in-bond bourbons. No stars. No hype. Just a blind test to see where Old Bardstown belongs — and in the end, one bottle quietly separated itself. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Two Decorative Winners from Lucky Seven

Posted on April 21, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Two highly decorative Lucky Seven bottles step into the glass — Holiday Toast and The Frenchman — and both deliver far beyond their modest prices, with The Frenchman taking a clear but respectable win. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 33: Is New Riff Bottled in Bond Really the Best Bourbon in the World?

Posted on April 16, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The 2026 World Whiskies Awards crowned New Riff Bottled in Bond the world’s best bourbon. At $40, it qualifies for Bourbon Cheapskate — but how does it hold up against New Riff’s own 6-year single barrel? Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The Bottle I Should’ve Bought Sooner — Old Louisville Kentucky Series K

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Sometimes the bottles that wait patiently on the shelf turn out to be the ones you regret not buying sooner. Old Louisville’s Kentucky Series K delivers an inviting nose, a creamy, caramel-forward palate, and a finish that lingers just long enough to demand another pour. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 25: Rebel Single Barrel (Kyle Busch Edition)

Posted on January 22, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I didn’t expect to love a bourbon tied to a driver I never rooted for—but Rebel’s Kyle Busch Single Barrel proved that a little rowdy can still come with a whole lot of sweet. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Same Mashbill, Same Proof, No Safety Net

Posted on January 20, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A blind, head-to-head tasting of Four Roses barrel-strength OBSK and OESO revisits a Kentucky barrel pick and settles which bottle earns the top spot on my shelf — by the slimmest of margins. Continue reading →

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