Tag Archives: Tasting Notes

The Sunday Pour: The Empty Glass

Posted on April 12, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A shared bourbon glass eventually empties, but the empty glass is not always asking for another pour. Sometimes it is simply reminding us that enough can be enough. Continue reading →

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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 13-16

Posted on March 15, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

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 →

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

Posted on March 14, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

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 →

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March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—First Round Matchups 5-8

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The second wave of the Round of 64 delivered proof-heavy bruisers, subtle upsets, and a few bottles that teased greatness but couldn’t quite carry it through. Eight more contenders went head-to-head in blind format, and four earned their place in the next round. The bracket is tightening—and texture is starting to matter. 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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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 22: The Best of $40 and Under (New Year’s Edition)

Posted on January 1, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Great bourbon doesn’t have to be expensive. These are the bottles that proved it in 2025—my Top 10 bourbons under $40, plus the best values under $30, $25, and even $20. No hype, no gimmicks—just bottles that consistently punched above their price and earned permanent shelf space. 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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Tasting Tuesday: The 95-and-under Elite Eight—Proof, Patience and Unexpected Performances

Posted on November 4, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

The field has been cut in half twice already, and every bottle left has survived at least one blind skirmish to get here. At this stage, there are no flukes, no charity invites, and definitely no freebies. Only eight pours … Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The Rye Showdown — Final Four and Championship

Posted on September 2, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

After weeks of blind pours and unexpected twists, the Rye Challenge has come down to the Final Four. What started as a broad field of contenders has been whittled down to just four glasses — three of them from Jack … Continue reading →

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