Tag Archives: The Bourbon Cheapskate

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 26: Turning a $22 Bottle Into a Top-Shelf Pour

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I didn’t distill this whiskey. I just gave a solid $22 bottle three weeks in a finishing cask — and it jumped into the top 30 on my shelf. Continue reading →

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

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 →

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

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 24: The Bourbon That Refuses to Apologize

Posted on January 15, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

At $32–35, Old Grand-Dad 114 delivers a depth, mouthfeel, and finish that linger far longer than the price tag. Bold, honest, and unapologetic, it has earned the top spot on my Bourbon Cheapskate shelf—not by pretending to be more than it is, but by executing exactly what it promises. Continue reading →

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

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 23: Proof Positive

Posted on January 8, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Four bourbons. Three bottled at 100 proof and one at 101. Prices ranging from $25 to $45. No labels, no expectations—just four randomized pours and an honest blind tasting. A few surprises, one clear winner, and a reminder that sometimes the best bourbon on the table is the quiet sleeper you almost overlook. Continue reading →

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

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 →

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

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 21: Christmas Edition—The Day the Cheapskate Takes the Cork Out

Posted on December 25, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Every other week, I write about finding bourbon that feels extravagant without the extravagant price tag. But Christmas isn’t the day for restraint. It’s the day to open the bottle you’ve been saving, to pour generously, and to share it with the people who matter most. Bourbon can always be replaced. Friends and family can’t. Continue reading →

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

The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 20: Why I’m Writing This (And Who It’s For)

Posted on December 18, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Bourbon was never meant to be elite, hoarded, or ransomed to the highest bidder. It was crafted for regular people, meant to be shared, enjoyed, and woven into real moments. Bourbon Cheapskate exists to find attainable, affordable bourbon that still feels special — not because of the price tag, but because of the memories it helps create. Continue reading →

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