Tag Archives: single barrel bourbon

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

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 →

Posted in Bourbon, The Bourbon Cheapskate | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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 →

Posted in Bourbon, The Bourbon Cheapskate | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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 →

Posted in Bourbon, The Bourbon Cheapskate | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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 →

Posted in Bourbon, The Bourbon Cheapskate | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 37: Evan Williams America 250 (times three)

Three bottles. Three barrels. Same Evan Williams Single Barrel 250 release. Same 117.76 proof. Very different results. Barrel 222 proved why higher-proof single barrels can still deliver serious value at around $40. Continue reading →

Posted in Bourbon, The Bourbon Cheapskate | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 35: The Single Barrel Bargain Brawl

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 →

Posted in Bourbon, The Bourbon Cheapskate | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tasting Tuesday: Six Single Barrels, One Surprise Value Threat

Some single barrels arrive with reputation. Others arrive with a lower price tag and very little fanfare — until they force their way into the conversation. That’s what happened when Evan Williams America 250 stepped into a blind lineup against five respected single barrels and nearly stole the whole night. Continue reading →

Posted in Bourbon, Tasting Tuesday | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

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 →

Posted in Bourbon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—First Round Matchups 13-16

Round of 64, Part Four brought power, precision, and the tightest decision yet. One high seed flexed, one mid-seed edged forward on texture alone, and a razor-thin matchup came down to the final sip. Sixteen battles in, the bracket is beginning to separate depth from decency. Continue reading →

Posted in Bourbon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—First Round Matchups 9-12

Round of 64, Part Three delivered another mix of dominance and narrow escapes. One heavy hitter flexed hard, a couple mid-seeds quietly advanced, and texture once again proved to be a deciding factor. Twelve matchups in, the bracket is beginning to reveal who truly belongs. Continue reading →

Posted in Bourbon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment