The CASUAL POUR
Mike
MEET THE CONTRIBUTORS

Mike

Whiskey enthusiast. Occasional bad influence.

I'm Mike, one of the guys behind The Casual Pour. I'm a whiskey enthusiast who enjoys discovering new bottles, revisiting old favorites, and sharing a good pour with friends.

I don't believe enjoying whiskey should come with a rulebook. Neat, on the rocks, or mixed into a cocktail — drink it however you enjoy it.

Through reviews, blind tastings, distillery visits, and the occasional questionable purchase, I'm sharing my experiences and opinions. I'm no whiskey expert, and I'm not pretending to be one. Just someone who appreciates a good bourbon and the people who share it with me.
PERSONAL PICKS

SIX BOTTLES I LOVE.

Everyone's taste is different. Here are six bottles I enjoy. If we share a few favorites, you might enjoy my take on whiskey.

THE LATEST

ARTICLES BY Mike.

4 ARTICLES
November 8, 2026

Redwood Empire Pipe Dream 101: It Just Keeps Giving

Keith and I both loved Redwood Empire Pipe Dream 101. Great oak and caramel flavors, a finish that just keeps going, and a bourbon that was pretty hard to put down.

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November 4, 2026

The 90 Proof Bourbon Blind: Four Bottles, Plenty of Surprises

Keith and I blind tasted Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, Four Roses Small Batch, and Bulleit. We agreed on the winner, but neither of us was very good at guessing what was in our glasses.

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October 29, 2026

The Wheat Whiskey Blind

Keith and I blind tasted four easy-to-find wheated whiskeys: Maker's Mark, Larceny, Woodford Reserve Wheat, and Weller Special Reserve. One stood out from the others, and it wasn't particularly close.

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April 1, 2026

Maker's Mark: More Than Just the Red Wax

From the beautiful grounds and bourbon-filled rickhouses to tasting distillery exclusives and dipping our own bottles, our visit to Maker's Mark was an experience worth sharing.

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