As we approach the last phase of the first round of our inaugural Ultimate Sip Challenge, we reach the end of our third region, which presents some of our tastiest drams to date. Our subsitute bourbon in the Enthusiast Level Drams region – the Four Roses Single Barrel OESK – makes its appearance one of today’s blinds. And after today, we’ll only have two more tasting posts before we reach a very interesting and challenging second round. Let’s get started!
First Round High-Proof/High-Value Winners:
1792 Full Proof, Green River Full Proof, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend, Kentucky Owl Single Barrel, Old Forester 1924, Old Forester Single Barrel, Seelbach 10-Year
First Round Entry-Level/Value Buys Winners:
Angels Envy Port Finished, Clyde May’s Special Reserve, Evan Williams Bottled in Bond, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select, Old Forester 100, Old Forester 1910, Russell’s Reserve 10-Year, Wild Turkey 101
First Round Enthusiast Level Drams Winners:
Bank Street Straight Vault Edition, Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Pecan Finished, John J. Bowman Single Barrel, Old Emmer Cask Strength, Old Forester 1920, Seelbach’s 8-Year Cask Strength, Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Yellowstone Hand Picked Single Barrel
First Round – Solid Everyday Sippers (Top Half)
The first blind: Old Forester 1897 vs. Jim Beam Single Barrel; Elijah Craig Small Batch PGA Edition vs. Early Times Bottled in Bond
Glencairn #1: Beautiful, deep copper color, and a bit of nuttiness and toffee on the nose. The taste is creamy, soft and full of mild baking spice, toffee and vanilla. There’s a bit of oak and maybe a hint of tobacco on the back side, too. It’s not super complicated, but it’s tasty. I can picture a glass of this next to a warm fire in the dead of winter. The finish is fairly quick and a bit tart. Score: 73.
Glencairn #2: Decent amber color and some earthy notes on the nose. The taste is a bit nutty and there’s a healthy dose of cinnamon that follows. Not much complexity – just really good bourbon that’s super easy to sip. The finish is, again, a bit on the short side, and the spice leads the way. Score: 69.
Glencairn #3: Light amber color with some fruit (maybe apples?) and oak on the nose. Oak jumps out at the front on the taste, but there’s a really nice nuttiness that follows, trailed by some pleasant vanilla and caramel. The mouthfeel is decent and carries the taste into a decent finish with some caramel and spice. Score: 68.
Glencairn #4: Like #3, there’s a light amber appearance, but the nose is more spice and fruit-forward with apples and baking spice at the forefront. The taste starts out spicy, with a bit of proof jumping in the way of flavors of vanilla and toffee. The mouthfeel is solid, and the flavors are decent and enjoyable. The spice lingers on the backside, but there isn’t a lot of flavor that subsists. Score: 68.
The unveiling:
Glencairn #1: Old Forester 1897
Glencairn #2: Elijah Craig Small Batch PGA Edition
Glencairn #3: Early Times Bottled in Bond
Glencairn #4: Jim Beam Single Barrel
The results:
Old Forester 1897 73, Jim Beam Single Barrel 68
Elijah Craig Small Batch PGA Edition 69, Early Times Bottled in Bond 68
Old Forester 1897 and Elijah Craig Small Batch PGA Edition advance to the Round of 32.
The second blind: High West Chardonnay Cask vs. Nelson Brothers Reserve; Four Roses Single Barrel OESO vs. Daviess County Medium Toasted
Glencairn #1: Light copper color is present, and I detect aromas of brown sugar, vanilla and caramel. Some warm spice jumps out on the palate, joined by the same flavors from the nose. There’s also a bit of sour oak on the back end. The soft mouthfeel leads to a decent finish where the caramel is at the forefront, followed by some nice cinnamon. Score: 72.
Glencairn #2: The color in the glass is solid amber, and the nose is bright and citrusy. A bit of oak leads but gives way to candy, vanilla and toffee. This one is seriously sweet – bordering on too sweet. There’s a silky mouthfeel and a lingering finish that picks up on baking spice and cinnamon. Score: 70.
Glencairn #3: This glass holds the best color in the four-dram blind – rich copper. The nose is a bit on the light side, but I’m picking up notes of brown sugar and caramel. I’m getting brown sugar, cinnamon, caramel and some orange peel on the palate. This is a nicely complex pour. The mouthfeel is rich and so is the finish, which lingers with sweet cinnamon for more than a minute. Score: 73.
Glencairn #4: I’m seeing the lightest color in this blind, but it’s still a decent amber. Aromas of light vanilla and citrus are evident. Cinnamon is the hero on the palate, and it’s joined by brown sugar, toffee and a nice touch of oak. There’s a soft and silky mouthfeel, but there’s a surprisingly pleasant finish where the cinnamon that started the taste also finishes it. Score: 71.
The unveiling:
Glencairn #1: Nelson Brothers Reserve
Glencairn #2: Daviess County Medium Toasted
Glencairn #3: High West Chardonnay Cask
Glencairn #4: Four Roses Single Barrel OESO
The results:
High West Chardonnay Cask 73, Nelson Brothers Reserve 72
Four Roses Single Barrel OESO 71, Daviess County Medium Toasted 70
High West Chardonnay Cask and Four Roses Single Barrel OESO advance to the Round of 32.
Next post: We conclude our Solid Everyday Sipper region – and the first round – on Tuesday, June 24.
You can see the entire bracket at https://challonge.com/eovaukuz/
Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt
