Tag Archives: whiskey

The Sunday Pour: The Warehouse Heat

Posted on May 3, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Warm-climate bourbon ages differently because the heat drives the whiskey deeper into the barrel. Life can work that way, too. Pressure does not always destroy. Sometimes, it accelerates purpose. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 35: The Single Barrel Bargain Brawl

Posted on April 30, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Four value-friendly single barrels go head to head: Evan Williams 86.6, Benchmark Single Barrel, Member’s Mark Single Barrel and Evan Williams America 250. Some are decent. One is an outrageous bargain. And one makes me wonder why Heaven Hill hasn’t already given us a higher-proof Evan Williams Single Barrel as a regular release. 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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The Sunday Pour: The First Crack of the Barrel

Posted on April 26, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Some cracks sound like failure. Sometimes they are simply the first sign that pressure, heat, and time are shaping something stronger than before. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 34: Bonded on a Budget—Old Bardstown Faces Two Familiar Rivals

Posted on April 23, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Three low-cost bottled-in-bond bourbons. No stars. No hype. Just a blind test to see where Old Bardstown belongs — and in the end, one bottle quietly separated itself. 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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The Sunday Pour: The Miracle of Oak

Posted on April 19, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Oak does far more than hold whiskey — it changes it. Fire, pressure, and time transform ordinary wood into something capable of giving richness, character, and depth. Perhaps faith often works the same way in us. Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 33: Is New Riff Bottled in Bond Really the Best Bourbon in the World?

Posted on April 16, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The 2026 World Whiskies Awards crowned New Riff Bottled in Bond the world’s best bourbon. At $40, it qualifies for Bourbon Cheapskate — but how does it hold up against New Riff’s own 6-year single barrel? 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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The Sunday Pour: The Empty Glass

Posted on April 12, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A shared bourbon glass eventually empties, but the empty glass is not always asking for another pour. Sometimes it is simply reminding us that enough can be enough. Continue reading →

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