After completing one section of the second round, it’s clear that this is going to be a lot more difficult than the first round. Every bourbon in this round has already won one head-to-head blind and is good enough to drink on its own. We’ve lost most of the weaker colors and aromas and we’re getting into some territory where the differences between winning and losing might be a slightly better palate or finish. I’m already anticipating a great blind in the Sweet 16 between the winners in the High-Proof/High-Value Region, which appear below. Today, we venture into the territory of the Entry-Level/Value Buys first round winners, and while there aren’t as many vaunted competitors there, we will still find plenty of excellent and drinkable drams waiting, so let’s get cracking!

Second Round High-Proof/High-Value Winners:

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof, Old Forester 1924, Old Forester Single Barrel, Seelbach 10-Year

Second Round – Entry-Level/ Value Buys Region

The first blind: Old Forester 1910 vs. Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond; Russell’s Reserve 10-Year vs. Wild Turkey 101

Glencairn #1: The color is rich amber, and the first aroma is a bit nutty with some sugar and caramel in support. That nuttiness carries over into the taste, along with some solid cinnamon and vanilla. The mouthfeel isn’t what I’d have expected, but it isn’t terrible. It’s almost like a bit of cinnamon peanut butter on toast, and the finish is completed with the spice on the back end. Score: 69.

Glencairn #2: This color is unbeatable – almost like sherry wine instead of bourbon. There’s a faint bit of oak in the nose, but what I mostly pick up is sweet fruit – maybe apples and cherries. This is not a high-proof bourbon, and it comes across as a little on the thin side, but the flavors are distinct. This is immensely drinkable, with spiced fruit leading the palate, balanced by just a hint of oak. Even without the heat coming from proof, there’s a decent finish, with some spice and cherry on the back side.  Score: 75.

Glencairn #3: There’s a drop-off in color to mid-level amber, but the aroma is interesting – a bit earthy on the front-end, with some nice vanilla and caramel following. The first impression taste is nutty with a bit of oak and spice, followed by some nice vanilla. There’s a decent balance to this glass, and the silky mouthfeel leads to a slightly above-average finish where some warm spice is the hero. Score: 69.

Glencairn #4: The color is the lightest of the four-dram blind – low-level to mid-level amber. The nose is light, with classic bourbon flavors coming through. The same is true of the flavors, with lovely cinnamon, vanilla and caramel being balanced sweet with some oak. This is uncomplicated, but purely enjoyable. There’s a decent mouthfeel and a warm and spicy finish. Score: 68.

The unveiling:
Glencairn #1: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond
Glencairn #2: Old Forester 1910
Glencairn #3: Russell’s Reserve 10-Year
Glencairn #4: Wild Turkey 101

The results:
Old Forester 1910 75, Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 69
Russell’s Reserve 10-Year 69, Wild Turkey 101 68

Old Forester 1910 and Russell’s Reserve 10-Year advance to the Sweet 16.

The second blind: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select vs. Angel’s Envy Port Finished; Old Forester 100 vs. Clyde May’s Special Reserve

Glencairn #1: The blind starts off with nice, copper color in the glass and brown sugar, light cinnamon and a touch of oak. There’s banana on the palate along with the brown sugar and cinnamon, and the sensation is nicely warming. The mouthfeel is bordering on creamy, and the cinnamon lingers well into the finish. Score: 72.

Glencairn #2: I’m seeing light copper in the glass and picking up mainly caramel and light vanilla on the nose. The palate is cinnamon-heavy with backing notes of brown sugar and toffee. It’s a really nice pour with a silky mouthfeel and a decent, spice-filled finish. Score: 71.

Glencairn #3: The color here is a good bit lighter than the others, but it’s still a decent amber. and there’s a pleasant aroma of light sugar and toffee. The texture is a bit thinner than the predecessors, but I really like the sweet flavors of caramel, nutmeg and cloves. This one is so different from others I’ve tasted today, so it’s nice to have a change of pace, especially with an enjoyable spice-filled finish. Score: 70.

Glencairn #4: We’re back to a richer color, this time with deep amber, but a lighter nose than the others, with some wafts of brown sugar and toffee. Strong flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg join brown sugar out of the gate, along with a little fruit flavor – maybe apples. There’s a decent mouthfeel that leads to a nice finish of spiced fruit.  Score: 71.

The unveiling:
Glencairn #1: Old Forester 100
Glencairn #2: Jack Daniels’s Single Barrel Select
Glencairn #3: Angel’s Envy Port Finished
Glencairn #4: Clyde May’s Special Reserve

The results:
Jack Daniel’s Single Select 71, Angel’s Envy Port Finished 70
Old Forester 100 72, Clyde May’s Special Reserve 71

Jack Daniel’s Single Select and Old Forester 100 advance to the Sweet 16.

Next post: We start the second half of the Top 32 with the Enthusiast Level Drams region on Tuesday, July 1.

You can see the entire bracket at https://challonge.com/eovaukuz/

Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt