Tag Archives: Tasting Tuesday

Tasting Tuesday: Two Staggs Walk Into a Glencairn

Posted on May 19, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Scott gave me a bottle of Stagg 24C, and I treated it like a miser guarding a gemstone. Then he gave me a 25C, and it was finally time to let the two bottles lock antlers. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Knob Creek, Three Ways

Posted on May 12, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Knob Creek’s Blender’s Edition No. 1 promises a sweeter side of the classic Beam profile. I put it in a blind tasting against Knob Creek 9-Year and a 125-proof cask strength single barrel store pick to see where it landed. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Hard Truth Sweet Mash Wheated vs. Four Grain

Posted on May 5, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Hard Truth brings some serious sweet mash credibility from Brown County, Indiana. But between the Wheated Bottled in Bond and the Four Grain Bottled in Bond, one bottle gives me more flavor — and more bang for the buck. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Six Single Barrels, One Surprise Value Threat

Posted on April 28, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

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 →

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Tasting Tuesday: Two Decorative Winners from Lucky Seven

Posted on April 21, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Two highly decorative Lucky Seven bottles step into the glass — Holiday Toast and The Frenchman — and both deliver far beyond their modest prices, with The Frenchman taking a clear but respectable win. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Brown-Forman’s 100-Proof Family Battle

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Eight bottles. One whiskey house. Two blind rounds. Brown-Forman’s 100-proof lineup delivered exactly what you’d expect from a great whiskey family: consistency, value, and one clear winner. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Nine Bourbons, Extra Oak, and One Familiar Winner

Posted on April 7, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Nine bourbons with extra wood influence—double oak, triple oak, quad oak, cask finishing, and one personal experiment—went head to head in a blind tasting. A few surprises emerged, one bottle overperformed, and one familiar favorite proved again why it remains one of the best finished bourbons on my 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: 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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