Tag Archives: tasting

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

Posted on January 13, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Four bourbons. Same mashbill. Same proof. All tasted blind. When you strip away the labels and the hype, the differences shrink fast — and what’s left is a lesson in barrels, balance, and just how close great everyday bourbons can be. Continue reading →

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

Tasting Tuesday: A Maker’s Mark Triple Threat

Posted on December 16, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Standard Maker’s Mark vs. Maker’s Mark 46 vs. Maker’s Mark Heart Release 2024 This week’s Tasting Tuesday is a battle of three familiar names from the same family tree: Maker’s Mark (standard) Maker’s Mark 46 Maker’s Mark Heart Release 2024 … Continue reading →

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

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 19: Old Grand-Dad Showdown — Bonded vs. 7-Year vs. 114

Posted on December 11, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Today’s Bourbon Cheapskate pits three Old Grand-Dad expressions against each other — the classic Bottled-in-Bond, the resurrected 7-Year Bonded, and the crowd-favorite 114. I broke the blind tasting down category by category, and the results surprised me. I thought the 114 was the runaway favorite… until the 7-year started quietly flexing its muscles. Continue reading →

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

Tasting Tuesday — Jack Daniel’s Three-Way Showdown

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Three of my top-10 whiskeys went head-to-head for Tasting Tuesday: Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Tennessee Whiskey, the toasted-pecan–finished Tennessee Whiskey, and the Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye. Instead of scoring them outright, I judged them category by category — color, nose, palate, complexity, mouthfeel and finish. The results reinforced what my shelf already knew: all three of these are absolute bangers, and the rye still wears the crown. Continue reading →

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

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 18: Walmart vs. Weller (and Friends)

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Walmart has a new $19 bourbon on the shelf, so I threw it into a blind taste test with three other 90-proof bottles from the Buffalo Trace universe: Weller Special Reserve, Benchmark Small Batch, and Members Mark. Only one came out “good,” but all four proved something important about budget bourbon. Here’s how they ranked—and why the results weren’t surprising. Continue reading →

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

Tasting Tuesday: A Fresh Look at the Benchmark Five

Posted on December 2, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

This week’s Tasting Tuesday revisits the full five-bottle Benchmark lineup as I continue re-evaluating every bourbon on my shelf — now down to 36 left. My palate has changed, the scores have shifted, and a few surprises emerged, but Benchmark still stands as one of the best value introductions to bourbon you can buy. Continue reading →

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

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 17: Thanksgiving Surprises on the Shelf

Posted on November 27, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

I walked into BJ’s looking for a turkey. I walked out with two bourbons I didn’t know I needed. Thanksgiving miracles come in all forms—and sometimes they’re 116 proof. Continue reading →

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

Tasting Tuesday: Apple Wood, Toasted Oak and a Surprise Standout

Posted on November 25, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Tonight’s Tasting Tuesday features three bottles newly added to my shelf re-ranking project as I prepare for next year’s 64-bottle March Madness showdown. Company Distilling, Daviess County, and Noah’s Mill all bring something different to the table—but only one emerged as the clear standout of the night. Continue reading →

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

Tasting Tuesday: The Smallest Sip With the Biggest Lesson

Posted on November 18, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Sometimes it only takes the smallest sip to make a big decision. Tonight I ran to Total Wine hoping to pick up something special for my 40th high school reunion this weekend. Some people commemorate big moments with pictures — … Continue reading →

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

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 14: Battle of the $20 Bottled-in-Bond Bourbons

Posted on November 6, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Four classic budget BiBs go head-to-head in a category-by-category showdown. Benchmark, Early Times, J.W. Dant, and J.T.S. Brown all deliver way above their price—but only one wins the bourbon cheapskate challenge. Continue reading →

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