Tag Archives: Tasting Tuesday

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: The Pour I’ve Ignored

Posted on February 17, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The bottle that started it all. Before barrel finishes and 125-proof bruisers, Evan Williams Single Barrel was my “serious bourbon.” Tonight, I revisited the 1998 and 2015 vintages — and discovered that sometimes the value isn’t in the proof… it’s in the memory. 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: A Second Look That Changed Everything

Posted on February 3, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I didn’t love this bottle the first time around. Too much oak, not enough balance—or so I thought. Re-tasted blind as part of a new bracket challenge, Woodford Double Oaked showed up richer, rounder, and far better than I remembered. Sometimes the bourbon doesn’t change. The palate does. 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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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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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 →

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Tasting Tuesday: The 141-Proof Surprise Hiding in Plain Sight

Posted on January 6, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A hole-in-the-wall Nashville distillery. A bottle with no UPC code. And a 141.2-proof bourbon so intense it was literally illegal to fly home with. This Tasting Tuesday introduces one of the most surprising and unforgettable pours from our summer whiskey road trip. 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: 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 →

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