Tag Archives: rye whiskey

March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—First Round Matchups 17-20

Posted on March 17, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Round of 64, Part Five may have delivered the most explosive top seed performance yet. A dominant #2 reminded everyone why it earned its place, while two mid-seeds fought tooth and nail in tightly contested battles. At this stage, thin mouthfeel is a death sentence—and balance is beginning to separate contenders from pretenders. Continue reading →

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March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—First Round Matchups 1-4

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge kicks off with four blind Round of 64 matchups, where high-proof heavyweights, savory classics, and a few surprises go head-to-head. With labels hidden and scores recorded blind, the opening round delivers decisive wins, tight finishes, and the first clear signs of which bottles are built for a deep bracket run. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 30: Bonded vs. Single Barrel: When Blind Tasting Picks the Underdog

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

In a blind rye showdown, Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye unexpectedly outpaced its 94-proof Single Barrel sibling. Side by side, the Single Barrel may have a slight edge in refinement—but when you factor in a $20 price gap, the bonded bottle makes one of the strongest value arguments on the shelf. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The Great Rye-Off (17 Bottles. Zero Bracket. Maximum Chaos.)

Posted on February 24, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Seventeen ryes. No bracket. No head-to-head bias. Just blind rankings, reshuffles, eliminations, and a full Sunday of surprises. A few favorites held strong, one long-forgotten infinity bottle shocked me, and one former top seed crashed early. Rye may live in bourbon’s shadow—but after this experiment, it won’t be sitting on the bench anymore. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Jack Daniel’s “Rye-off”

Posted on February 10, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Three expressions. One distillery. Jack Daniel’s rye lineup isn’t about winners and losers, but about how proof, barrel selection, and structure shape the final pour. From the budget-friendly Bonded Rye to the indulgent Barrel Proof, this is a side-by-side look at what makes each bottle distinct — and why all three earn their place on the shelf. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday Wednesday: A Christmas “Best Of” Bourbon Showdown

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Twelve bottles. Four tasting flights. One unexpected sleeper and one very familiar champion. A Christmas trip to the mountains turned into a “best of my shelf” bourbon showdown—proof that great whiskey doesn’t care about price, hype, or even what day of the week it is. Continue reading →

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