After the first round, the second wave of blinds got a lot more interesting. The best of the best (at least in my collection at that point) entered the fray, and some of the matchups got very tight. I also figured out that my scoring was a little wonky. (Honestly, it probably still is. I’m trying to make it more consistent, but doing these blinds is definitely a work in progress.)

Before we get to the results, tonight’s dram is Jack Daniels Single Barrel Select. That’s become one of my go-tos, and even though it’s not officially a bourbon, we all know that it’s close enough to enjoy during a discussion about bourbons. Now, for the second round winners. (Again, here is the PDF of the bracket if you’d like to look at the overall scores without the commentary.)

Second Round

Old Forester Single Barrel 77, Buffalo Trace 60. Sazerac’s bottom-shelf staple had no chance in this one-sided affair. Old Forester’s store pick favorite is rich, flavorful and full of everything you have come to expect in a bourbon.

1792 Single Barrel 64, Angels Envy Port Finished 63. Close call, but 1792 has a slight overall edge, especially in its classic bourbon flavor.

Baker’s 7 Single Barrel 64, Wild Turkey 101 61. This was a little surprising to me, especially because I enjoy the 101 so much. Baker’s just has a stronger flavor profile, and the 101 is a little on the thin side.

Old Forester 1920 76, Knob Creek 9 65. Again, an Old Forester staple easily bests a bourbon that is a decent pour. Old Forester’s 1920, which is at the heart of its Whiskey Row series, is almost as full and rich as the single barrel at the top of the bracket.

John J. Bowman Single Barrel 69, Nelson Brothers Reserve 66. In retrospect, this was a lot closer on paper than it should have been. The Bowman is one of my favorites, and next to it, Nelson comes across as very average. I don’t remember why Bowman scored below 70 during that blind, but it’s easily superior to most things on my shelf, including Nelson Brothers.

Jack Daniels Single Barrel 66, “Burlock Unknown” 65. Tonight’s pour wins its first blind against the surprisingly good infinity bottle. I need to remember how good that infinity is so I can enjoy it some evenings, but the Jack Single is such a solid pour that it’s hard to pass up when it catches my eye. The classic Jack banana aroma and front-end flavor have become one of my favorites.

High West Chardonnay Cask 72, Bulleit Bottled-in-Bond 61. Another surprising outcome, especially because I really like this offering from Bulleit. I think this High West finished product is so buttery (almost like a crème brûlée in a glass) that it feels like I’m drinking my dessert.

Henry McKenna Bottled-in-Bond 62, McFarlane’s Cask Strength 61. The McFarlane improved in this blind, while the McKenna was a little disappointing. But it was still tasty enough to slip into the third round.

Kentucky Owl Single Barrel 70, “Infinity Crystal” 59.

Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 72, Benchmark Full Proof 67. Don’t take your eye off of this Benchmark bourbon – it’s one of the best things going in its price range. But Heaven Hill’s BiB is so delicious that it’s an easy winner, even against stout competition.

Heaven’s Door Homesick Blues 70, E.H. Taylor Small Batch 65. Another surprise, only because I really expected Taylor to dominate. But the Homesick Blues is deep in color and rich in flavor. Taylor would be a great pour on most nights, but it’s not as strong a contender as I had expected.

Wild Turkey Rare Breed 67, Maker’s Mark 46 (Bill’s Recipe) 66. A lot closer than I would have thought, and Rare Breed seems like a lower score than it should have been.

Stagg Jr. 73, Benchmark Single Barrel 66. Allocated easily bests (high-quality) bottom shelf.

Penelope Marshmallow Toast 75, Jack Daniels Single Barrel Rye 65. This Penelope has hints of cotton candy. If you like that sort of thing, you’ll love this bourbon.

Bank Street Straight 69, Seelbach 10-Year 67. This result blew me away, mainly because this Seelbach special is one of the best things I’ve tasted in the last couple of months. But something about Bank Street just speaks to me. Yes, I know it’s Spirits Direct, but it’s still worth having.

Old Forester Baby Birthday 102 69, Jim Beam Single Barrel 60. No question here. The home-blend of 60 percent Old Forester 1910 and 40 percent Old Forester 1920 is a slam dunk. And Jim Beam’s single is overrated.

End of the second round. Round three results and commentary will follow.

Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt