As we reach the end of the second round, we’re seeing an amazing Sweet 16 developing. Starting this Sunday, we’ll be going head-to-head with matchups where each one will see something wonderful fall to the wayside while something slightly more wonderful moves into the Elite Eight. We already have 12 infinitely sip-worthy competitors lined up for the third round. All we need is the last four to complete the field, so let’s get started with the smelling and tasting!
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 Winners:
Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Pecan Finished, Old Forester 1920, Seelbach’s 8-Year Cask Strength, Yellowstone Single Barrel Hand Picked
Second Round – Solid Everyday Sippers Region
The first blind: Old Forester 1897 vs. Elijah Craig Small Batch PGA Edition; High West Chardonnay Cask vs. Four Roses Single Barrel OESO
Glencairn #1: We start with lovely, light mahogany color, but the nose is puzzling me. I think I’m picking up bits of banana and caramel behind a front line of ethanol. That ethanol is still there at the front of the palate, but it fades and I get a solid dose of brown sugar, cherry and chocolate. There’s a decent, soft mouthfeel and a nice finish of cinnamon and brown sugar. Score: 74.
Glencairn #2: The color is the deepest amber, and there’s a somewhat light nose with spiced apples. There is definitely fruit in the front end of the palate, matched with layers of brown sugar, cinnamon and caramel. This is a rich and delicious pour, and the creamy mouthfeel leads me to a brown sugar-driven finish. Score: 76.
Glencairn #3: Nice amber color is in the glass, but the aroma is a bit oak-forward, backed by sugar and vanilla. Spice jumps forward heavily on the palate, with sweet vanilla and caramel trailing in behind. There’s a nice, creamy mouthfeel, and warm brown sugar leads cinnamon on a decent finish. Score: 74.
Glencairn #4: Nice, light mahogany greets the eyes, and light wafts of brown sugar, oak and caramel greet the nose. The flavor leads with warm brown sugar and cinnamon, maybe a touch of tree fruit and a solid dose of oak at the back end. It’s creamy, and the oak is heavy in the finish, though there’s also a solid flavor of brown sugar as well. Score: 75.
The unveiling:
Glencairn #1: Old Forester 1897
Glencairn #2: Elijah Craig Small Batch PGA Edition
Glencairn #3: Four Roses Single Barrel OESO
Glencairn #4: High West Chardonnay Cask
The results:
Elijah Craig Small Batch PGA Edition 76, Old Forester 1897 74
High West Chardonnay Cask 75, Four Roses Single Barrel OESO 74
Elijah Craig Small Batch PGA Edition and High West Chardonnay Cask advance to the Sweet 16.
The second blind: Bulleit Bottled in Bond vs. Benchmark Single Barrel; Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond vs. Chattanooga Bottled in Bond
Glencairn #1: Light copper color starts us off, followed by aromas of cinnamon, caramel, vanilla and brown sugar. The flavors mimic the nose, with cinnamon leading the way, followed by rich brown sugar. The texture is silky and smooth and takes us to a nice finish with even more cinnamon and brown sugar. Score: 74.
Glencairn #2: I’m seeing a decent amber color in the glass, and the aroma is oak forward, followed by traces of vanilla and apples. The taste starts with cinnamon apples backed by vanilla and caramel. There’s a soft mouthfeel that carries us to a pleasant finish where we’re treated to more cinnamon apples. This isn’t going to win, but I wouldn’t turn down a dram of it. Score: 70.
Glencairn #3: There’s rich copper in the glass, and the nose detects light wafts of vanilla and caramel. The taste is tree fruit-forward, with solid cinnamon and caramel in reserve. The mouthfeel on this one is syrupy, so we get a solid and delicious finish dominated by brown sugar and cinnamon. Score: 76.
Glencairn #4: This ties #3 for the best color in the blind with deep copper, followed by sweet red fruit and vanilla. The flavor is also very, led by delicious caramel and vanilla with some nice cinnamon toward the back end. There’s a silky mouthfeel, and that cinnamon jumps out even more as the taste progresses. Score: 74.
The unveiling:
Glencairn #1: Bulleit Bottled in Bond
Glencairn #2: Benchmark Single Barrel
Glencairn #3: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond
Glencairn #4: Chattanooga Bottled in Bond
The results:
Bulleit Bottled in Bond 74, Benchmark Single Barrel 70
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 76, Chattanooga Bottled in Bond 74
Bulleit Bottled in Bond and Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond advance to the Sweet 16.
Next post: We start our Very Sweet Sixteen with the top four from our first two regions – High-Proof/High-Value and Entry-Level/Value Buys – on Sunday, July 6.
You can see the entire bracket at https://challonge.com/eovaukuz/
Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt
