So, this is it. What started with 64 whiskeys more than a month ago is finally down to four final contenders. These aren’t necessarily the four best whiskeys in the field, but each one represents excellence within its field (or in our case, region). Old Forester Single Barrel represents well the High-Proof/High Value region. It’s not the most expensive bourbon, and it’s not usually allocated, but it checks in with classic bourbon goodness at about 135 proof. Its little brother – Old Forester 1910 – isn’t the cheapest bourbon, but it’s still a nice representative of the Entry-Level/Value Buys region. If I was to recommend a $50 to $60 bottle to a beginner, Old Forester 1910 would easily be on that list. Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series is certainly suited for whiskey enthusiasts, so it sits nicely atop the Enthusiast Level Drams region. And finally, there’s the Elijah Craig Small Batch PGA Edition. If there’s a solid everyday sipper, this is it, so it’s only fitting that this whiskey is in the Final Four as the champion of the Solid Everyday Sippers region. Now, it’s time for these four to go head-to-head. There are significant differences between all of them, but they all are infinitely sippable, so I’m looking forward to seeing who will make it into our inaugural championship!
High-Proof/High-Value Champion:
Old Forester Single Barrel
Entry-Level/Value Buys Champion:
Old Forester 1910
Enthusiast Level Drams Champion:
Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Pecan
Solid Everyday Sippers Champion:
Elijah Craig Small Batch PGA Edition
Fifth Round – The Final Four: The Final Proof
The blind: Old Forester Single Barrel vs. Old Forester 1910; Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Pecan vs. Elijah Craig Small Batch PGA Edition
Glencairn #1: We begin the Final Four with nice, deep copper color and classic aromas of caramel, vanilla and a hint of toasted oak. Some cinnamon jumps up on the palate, along with a trace of tree fruit. These balance with the flavors from the aroma to create a nicely complex dram. This has a nicely creamy mouthfeel, and there’s a sweet and spicy finish full of cinnamon and brown sugar. Score: 90.
Glencairn #2: The step up in color is instantly noticeable, with rich mahogany color. Aromas of cherry and rich brown sugar are unmistakable, and there also seems to be traces of caramel and chocolate. There’s a little heat at the front, but the dark cherry goodness is joined by baking spice and brown sugar, followed by a trace of oak. Again, there’s a creamy mouthfeel and a lingering finish, but I’m picking up a bit of sour cherry here. Score: 92.
Glencairn #3: More beautiful amber color greets my eyes, and I’m picking up bananas, brown sugar and caramel on the nose. As with #2, there’s some heat on this one – maybe even more than #2 – but that evolves into beautiful cinnamon, which unites with brown sugar, chocolate and banana to create a memorable sip. I think I’m going to have “creamy mouthfeel” on repeat in this round, because this one certainly has that. The baking spice is the hero in the finish, which hangs around for more than a minute. Score: 92.
Glencairn #4: The color ebbs just a bit, but there’s the deepest copper in this glass. Aromas of spiced apples and cherries are touched by brown sugar. The taste is instantly spicy, but flavors of sweet fruit, brown sugar and cinnamon break through. This is the definition of “Dessert in a Glass.” The mouthfeel is on the silky side, but it’s enough to deliver a warm, spice-filled finish. Score: 91.
Thoughts about the blind: This blind is so close that subtle differences will decide between winners and runners-up. #1 lags behind in color and aroma, but it’s up to the task in every other area. #2 and #3 are at the top of their game in every category, though the sour finish on #3 places it slightly behind #2. And #4 seems only a fraction behind #2 and #3 and is every bit the worthy contender. It takes second, third and fourth sips to determine which one is at the top of the blind and which one sits toward the bottom.
The unveiling:
Glencairn #1: Elijah Craig Small Batch PGA Edition
Glencairn #2: Old Forester Single Barrel
Glencairn #3: Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Pecan
Glencairn #4: Old Forester 1910
The results:
Old Forester Single Barrel 92, Old Forester 1910 91
Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Pecan 92, Elijah Craig Small Batch PGA Edition 90
Old Forester Single Barrel and Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Pecan advance to the Championship.
Sixth Round – Ultimate Sip Championship
The blind: Old Forester Single Barrel vs. Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Pecan
Initial thoughts: Now that we’re down to only two, we’ll have to pick. We’ve re-poured the drams and my wife thoroughly mixed them up so that I won’t instantly know which is which. Realistically, I’m going to know what I’m sipping, so I’ll have to be intellectually honest so that I can pick a winner and a runner-up. At the end, the one I can picture myself enjoying the most will probably win, but let’s find out. For this round, I’m going to analyze the two in each category instead of picking an overall score.
Color: These two are almost identical, but Glencairn #2 is a bit clearer, so I’m giving the advantage to that glass. Advantage: Glencairn #2.
Aroma: Again, both glasses emit aromas that are delicious to the nose. But again, the aroma in the second glass jump out most quickly and deliver a punch to the senses. Advantage: Glencairn #2.
Flavor: Both of these are drams I could have right before I die. I’m 99.9 percent sure which is which, but I’m leaning every so slightly toward the first glass because there’s more of an easyness in the sip. Advantage: Glencairn #1
Complexity: Both drams have layers upon layers of rich, whiskey goodness, and it’s impossible to determine which one wears it better. There are so many flavors competing with each other, but none of it is distracting. It’s just delicious. Advantage: Tie.
Mouthfeel: The first glass is beautifully creamy, but the second is bordering on syrup. Advantage: Glencairn #2.
Finish: The second glass counts on high proof to create a lasting finish, but the first glass lingers simply because it’s beautiful. Advantage: Glencairn #1.
Overall impressions: If we’re basing this on winning categories, Glencairn #2 is the champion, with three categories to two and one tie. But it’s close enough that it’s going to take me one last sip to determine the winner. Glencairn #1 has balance. It’s sweet and decadent and delivers a winning and lasting experience. Glencairn #2 is almost identical in its appeal, but the proof edges in just a bit too much, and that’s the difference.
The unveiling:
Glencairn #1: Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Pecan
Glencairn #2: Old Forester Single Barrel
The results:
Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Pecan 93, Old Forester Single Barrel 92
Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Pecan is the champion of the inaugural Capnen’s Ultimate Sip Challenge.
Final thoughts: Yes, I’m a ringer for Old Forester and Jack Daniel’s. It’s clear that those flavor profiles appeal to me, and that proved to be the difference throughout this inaugural competition. But everyone has preferences, so I’m not ashamed of the outcome. On the other hand, I’m still learning about tasting and aromas and all of it, so a year from now, when I initiate the 2nd Annual Capn Pen’s Ultimate Sip Challenge, I’m hoping that there will be new contenders and a different appreciation for bourbon, Tennessee Whiskey and all of there wonderful goodness. Regardless, I will repeat that there was one big winner here – me! I have loved every sip of this challenge, and I’m already looking forward to future blinds. Thank you to each of you who have joined me on this delicious journey. Please, if you have any suggestions for blinds I can complete on my site, send it to me through the comments or contact me at deboltdoug@bellsouth.net.
You can see the entire bracket at https://challonge.com/eovaukuz/
Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt
