Tag Archives: whiskey

The Sunday Pour: The Rickhouse Window

Posted on March 8, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A rickhouse is a quiet place where whiskey ages slowly in the dark. But when a beam of sunlight slips through a dusty window, the barrels suddenly reveal details you might not notice otherwise. Sometimes life works the same way—nothing changes except the light. 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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Tasting Tuesday Wednesday: A Christmas “Best Of” Bourbon Showdown

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Twelve bottles. Four tasting flights. One unexpected sleeper and one very familiar champion. A Christmas trip to the mountains turned into a “best of my shelf” bourbon showdown—proof that great whiskey doesn’t care about price, hype, or even what day of the week it is. Continue reading →

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The Sunday Pour: The Shared Flask

Posted on December 14, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

The idea of a shared flask can feel uncomfortable now. We’re more careful — for good reasons — and some old images don’t land the way they once did. But the truth is, the shared flask was never really about … 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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Tasting Tuesday: The 95-and-under Elite Eight—Proof, Patience and Unexpected Performances

Posted on November 4, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

The field has been cut in half twice already, and every bottle left has survived at least one blind skirmish to get here. At this stage, there are no flukes, no charity invites, and definitely no freebies. Only eight pours … Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 11: Chattanooga 111 vs. the Field

Posted on October 17, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

The 111-Proof Four-Way Blind The Setup I’ve been high on Chattanooga Whiskey 111 Cask ever since I found it for just under $40. It drinks like something twice its age — barely two and a half years old but packed … Continue reading →

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The Dream That Ages Like Bourbon

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

If I were guaranteed not to fail, I’d build something equal parts distillery and dream factory — a place where words and whiskey flow with the same kind of honest craftsmanship. Imagine a small compound tucked somewhere in the Kentucky … Continue reading →

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The Bourbon Cheapskate, Vol. 9: Rebel 100 – The Bold Wheater That Won’t Break the Bank

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

Bourbon Cheapskate: Rebel 100 Every now and then, Shores Liquors (here in Jacksonville) puts something on sale that’s too good to pass up. This week it was Rebel 100 — normally $29.99, but marked down to just $21.99 for a … Continue reading →

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ありがとう, Japan!

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Douglas Blaine

(A Thank-You Pour Across the Ocean) Over the past month, I’ve noticed something surprising in my blog stats: a big jump in readers from Japan. Now, when I say “big,” we’re not talking viral influencer levels here—my site falls well … Continue reading →

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