We’re halfway through the second round. The tasting has been challenging and delicious, and the decisions have been difficult and sometimes disappointing. I can’t fault any of the winners in the Entry-Level/Value Buys Region, but we lost some bourbons there that easily could have been winners: Wild Turkey 101, Angels Envy, Clyde May’s Special Reserve (one that has recently become a personal favorite). This is going to happen more and more as we venture deeper into this competition, and I expect no less from today’s competitors. All eight of today’s bourbons are wonderful, and it will be tough to see any of them go. On the other hand, I’m excited to see which ones move forward into the Sweet 16!
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 Winners:
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select, Old Forester 100, Old Forester 1910, Russell’s Reserve 10-Year
Second Round – Enthusiast Level Drams Region
The first blind: Old Forester 1920 vs. Bank Street Straight Value Edition; Wild Turkey Rare Breed vs. Seelbach’s 8-Year Cask Strength
Glencairn #1: The blind starts with copper in the glass and bananas, cherries and brown sugar on the nose. That brown sugar jumps out with warm cinnamon on the palate, Some savory oak comes in to balance things, but the overall sensation is warm, sweet and delicious. The brown sugar lingers in a pleasing finish. Score: 75.
Glencairn #2: Light mahogany color builds expectation, and the nose does not disappoint as beautiful chocolate-covered cherries greet the nose. The taste is instantly and decadently sweet, with brown sugar, chocolate, caramel and cherries flooding the palate, There’s some cinnamon that sneaks in toward the end. The mouthfeel is almost syupy, and the finish is full of spice and brown sugar. Score: 82.
Glencairn #3: The color is solid copper, and the nose leads with some oak, toffee and baking spice. That spice leads the way on the taste, followed by brown sugar, toffee and oak. (It’s almost like tasting the aromas in reverse.) The mouthfeel isn’t bad, but it doesn’t get all the way to creamy. Still, there’s a nice spice-filled finish with touches of apple at the end. Score: 77.
Glencairn #4: Lovely, light mahogany rests in the glass, and the aromas start out with some savory oak and toffee. The taste borders on creamy, and the taste starts sweetly, almost like candy. There’s some brown sugar, along with oak, baking spice and apples. Even with the nice texture, the finish is a bit light, with some nice spiced fruit leading the way. Score: 76.
The unveiling:
Glencairn #1: Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Glencairn #2: Old Forester 1920
Glencairn #3: Seelbach’s 8-Year Cask Strength
Glencairn #4: Bank Street Straight Vault Edition
The results:
Old Forester 1920 82, Bank Street Straight Vault Edition 76
Seelbach’s 8-Year Cask Strength 77, Wild Turkey Rare Breed 75
Old Forester 1920 and Seelbach’s 8-Year Cask Strength advance to the Sweet 16.
The second blind: Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Pecan Finished vs. Old Emmer Cask Strength; John J. Bowman Single Barrel vs. Yellowstone Single Barrel Hand Picked
Glencairn #1: There’s some nice, solid amber in the glass, but the nose is on the light side with notes of oak and toffee. There’s a lot of spice on the front end, along with a bit of ethanol, followed by the oak and toffee. The finish is pleasant with some spiced fruit on the back side. Score: 70.
Glencairn #2: The color here is solid amber, and the aroma leads with spiced cherries and toffee. Some oak and ethanol lead on the front, but it gives way quickly to the spiced fruit and toffee. There’s some creaminess present, and that leads toward a spicy finish where baking spice is the hero. Score: 74.
Glencairn #3: Rich, mahogany color is a feast for the eyes, and my nose is detecting some higher proof, though there are solid notes of brown sugar, caramel and chocolate. The syrupy mouthfeel carries warm, cinnamon brown sugar, followed by nutmeg and chocolate. This glass is simply decadent, and the finish is my dessert for the night. Creamy, sweet cinnamon leads the way home. Score: 83.
Glencairn #4: We return to aromas of fruit, as perhaps apples and grapes are joined by some nice vanilla. The color is rich copper, and my first taste reveals probably the lowest proof of the blind, as well as the blind’s sweetest flavor. I don’t necessarily love candy-sweet bourbon, but this is a nice dram, with some vanilla and a touch of baking spice toward the end. The mouthfeel is decent, as is the fruity finish. Score: 72.
The unveiling:
Glencairn #1: Old Emmer Cask Strength
Glencairn #2: Yellowstone Single Barrel Hand Picked
Glencairn #3: Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Pecan Finished
Glencairn #4: John J. Bowman Single Barrel
The results:
Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Pecan Finished 83, Old Emmer Cask Strength 70
Yellowstone Single Barrel Hand Picked 74, John J. Bowman Single Barrel 72
Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Pecan Finished and Yellowstone Single Barrel Hand Picked advance to the Sweet 16.
Next post: We finish the top eight of our final region – the Solid Everyday Sippers – on Thursday, July 3.
You can see the entire bracket at https://challonge.com/eovaukuz/
Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt
