Tag Archives: Tennessee whiskey

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 46: Bourbon Cheapskate: Which Jack Daniel’s Bonded Whiskey Is Best?

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Three Jack Daniel’s Bonded bottles. Three nearly identical price tags. One blind tasting to determine whether Tennessee Whiskey, Rye or Triple Mash offers the best pour for the money. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: Jack Daniel’s Rye Blind Tasting—Six Bottles, Two Hazmats and One Clear Winner

Posted on July 14, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Jack Daniel’s may be famous for Tennessee Whiskey, but its rye lineup deserves more respect. I blindly tasted six Jack Daniel’s ryes — including the Straight Rye, Bonded Rye, Single Barrel Rye, Barrel Proof Rye and two Hazmat-level 2026 Special Releases — to see which bottle came out on top. Continue reading →

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Best of the Bourbon Trail Trip, Part Three: The Eight Bottles That Made It Home

Posted on June 17, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Eight whiskeys came home from the trip. Two blind flights later, there were no bad choices — but one Tennessee single barrel rose above the rest. Continue reading →

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The Story Between the Lines: What the Label Doesn’t Say

Posted on June 13, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Before the famous label, there was a boy named Jasper and a man named Nate. One became the name the world remembered. The other helped teach the craft. Their story reminds us that the truth behind a legend is often fuller than the label can hold. Continue reading →

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Tasting Monday: Best Bottle of Spring Break—An 11-Bottle Blind from the Road

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A spring break trip to see family, finish the Tennessee Whiskey Trail, and come home with enough bottles for a serious blind tasting. Eleven pours later, one bottle rose above the rest. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 30: Bonded vs. Single Barrel: When Blind Tasting Picks the Underdog

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

In a blind rye showdown, Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye unexpectedly outpaced its 94-proof Single Barrel sibling. Side by side, the Single Barrel may have a slight edge in refinement—but when you factor in a $20 price gap, the bonded bottle makes one of the strongest value arguments on the shelf. 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: 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 — 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 →

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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 →

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