Tag Archives: value bourbon

Tasting Tuesday: Rivertown Reserve—When Buffalo Trace Meets the Aging Barrel

Posted on March 3, 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 →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 27: The Bottle I Bought Out of Guilt (and Loved)

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Sometimes the bottles we buy out of guilt turn out to be the biggest surprises. A $40 impulse buy and a $24 bottom-shelfer shocked me in a blind tasting — and one of them beat bottles that cost a lot more. Continue reading →

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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 →

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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. 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 →

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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 →

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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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