Two rounds are down, and we’ve left 48 bourbons – ranging from decent to amazing – sitting on the shelf. Still in play are 16 excellent bourbons (well, 13 bourbons and three Tennessee Whiskeys) that are vying for the inaugural title of Ultimate Sip Challenge Champion. I’m looking across at the row of bottles in today’s blinds, and I have to say that this is probably the one I’ve anticipated the most. I’ve had some clue as to which ones might win the previous rounds, but now we’re at a place where I honestly have no clue. Based on past experience and our previous two rounds, all of the colors are rich, all of the aromas are enticing and all of the flavors are delicious. If you look at the second round winners below, you might find one or two whiskeys that aren’t your favorites, but every one of these is sip-worthy, and the majority are much better than that. So now, all there is left to do is start tasting!

(One note: I’ve realized that my scoring makes it seem like I don’t think too highly of these bourbons [and Tennessee whiskeys], even though I’m raving about them in my notes. I have a particular scoring method which ends up with lower scores than you might expect. To compensate for this, I’m changing my scoring to include a curve which carries the numbers into the range that probably more accurately represents the full quality of these whiskeys.)

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 Winners:

Bulleit Bottled in Bond, Elijah Craig Small Batch PGA Edition, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond, High West Chardonnay Cask

Third Round – Very Sweet Sixteen – High-Proof/High Value Region

The blind: Old Forester Single Barrel vs. Seelbach’s 10-Year Cask Strength; Old Forester 1924 vs. Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof

Glencairn #1: The color is solid, deep copper, and my nose is picking up some definite proof but also cherries mixed with rich caramel. The heat quickly gets out of the way on the taste, where delicious notes of banana, chocolate and vanilla are balanced with a touch of oak. This feels wonderful in the mouth, and a couple of minutes later I’m still getting lingering tastes of vanilla and baking spice. Score: 90.

Glencairn #2: The color gets deeper here – solid mahogany – and the aroma is a lot fruitier than its predecessor, maybe cherries leading vanilla and brown sugar. There’s a jolt of proof on the palate, but those cherries quickly jump out and say “Hello!” There are also touches of cinnamon, chocolate and caramel. This one is a must-have! The spice lingers well into the finish. Score: 91.

Glencairn #3: This one’s color is still nicely mahogany, and toffee leads the way on the nose, followed by vanilla and brown sugar. There’s a lot of spice on the front end, mixed with brown sugar. If there’s any fruit, it’s bananas, and I think I pick up hints of dark chocolate toward the end. This has a syrupy mouthfeel that is more than pleasing. If there’s any knock here, it’s a touch of bitterness in the finish. Score: 91.

Glencairn #4: Good Lord, this blind is getting difficult. More nice, mahogany color and more rich aromas of brown sugar, toffee and light baking spice. A little oak jumps out on the palate, followed by waves of cinnamon, brown sugar, toffee and cherries. There might be a little chocolate here, too. The mouthfeel is creamy and delicious, and brown sugar leads cinnamon on the way out. Score: 90.

Thoughts about the blind: This one’s brutal. No matter what I do, I’m sending two contender-level whiskeys to the curb. All four of these rate within a fraction of one another, so it takes several retastes to figure out which one is the winner of the blind. In the end, Glencairn #2 is ever so slightly ahead of the rest. There’s just a touch of ethanol in #4 that puts it behind the rest, but that flavor is undeniable. That leaves #1 and #3, and on second tasting, I can tell that #1 has less kick than #3. While proof is no problem for me, #3 has a bit of ethanol that blocks some of the taste, so that places #1 ever so slightly ahead. Truthfully, any one of these four could have been the winner of the whole thing.

The unveiling:
Glencairn #1: Old Forester 1924
Glencairn #2: Old Forester Single Barrel
Glencairn #3: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof
Glencairn #4: Seelbach 10-Year Cask Strength

The results:
Old Forester Single Barrel 92, Seelbach 10-Year Cask Strength 91
Old Forester 1924 92, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof 91

Old Forester Single Barrel and Old Forester 1924 advance to the Elite Eight.

Third Round – Very Sweet Sixteen – Entry-Level/Value Buys Region

The blind: Old Forester 1910 vs. Russell’s Reserve 10-Year; Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select vs. Old Forester 100

Glencairn #1: Nice, copper is in the glass, and there are deep aromas of toffee and brown sugar. Oak stands out at the front, but is balanced with toffee, vanilla and cinnamon. The mouthfeel is soft and delicious, and the finish concludes with baking spice and caramel. Score: 83.

Glencairn #2: The deepest color in the blind – soft mahogany – shows up, carrying aromas of cherries, oak and toffee. The taste brings spiced cherries and brown sugar, backed with a balance of soft oak. The finish is silky and smooth and carries a finish of cinnamon and brown sugar. Score: 87.

Glencairn #3: Ethanol, oak and apples lead the nose after the eyes are greeted with modest amber. The flavor is completely fruit forward – I’m thinking cinnamon apple pie – and a balance of oak drifts in toward the end. Score: 74.

Glencairn #4: Rich amber color leads the last glass of the night, and wafts of light toffee, banana and brown sugar greet the nose. The taste is a brown sugar bomb, with cinnamon and toffee playing strong supporting roles. The texture is soft, but the finish is delicious, with that brown sugar and cinnamon ensuring a tasty experience.  Score: 78.

Thoughts about the blind: This blind wasn’t as difficult, as Glencairn #2 was the clear winner and Glencairn #1 was a solid runner-up. None of this was bad, but there was definite separation between each of the regional semifinalists.

The unveiling:
Glencairn #1: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select
Glencairn #2: Old Forester 1910
Glencairn #3: Russell’s Reserve 10-Year
Glencairn #4: Old Forester 100

The results:
Old Forester 1910 87, Russell’s Reserve 74
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 83, Old Forester 100 78

Old Forester 1910 and Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select advance to the Sweet 16.

Next post: We complete our Very Sweet Sixteen with the top four from our second two regions – Enthusiast Level Drams and Solid Everyday Sippers – on Tuesday, July 8.

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

Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt