Each played a part in the soundtrack and storyline of my growing-up years. Malcolm-Jamal Warner felt like family—I grew up with the Huxtables, and he was right there in the mix. Ozzy was ever-present; even if you weren’t a die-hard fan, his larger-than-life persona was impossible to miss. Chuck Mangione’s smooth jazz wove through the background of my adolescence, a cornerstone of the yacht rock era. And Hulk Hogan? He didn’t just tear his shirt off on TV—he tore into my childhood like a fireball. I first saw him in Rocky III, and I was even lucky enough to watch him wrestle “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff live during my Air Force training in Indianapolis.

Some of these men are still with us, some have moved on, and some are simply no longer in the spotlight—but their influence lingers, like the finish of a great bourbon.

So today, I’m honoring their legacy the best way I know how: with a blind tasting of four bold, cask-strength bourbons—one for each of them.

The Bottles:

• Knob Creek Single Barrel Select – 125.3 proof

• Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch 34 – 113.8 proof

• New England Barrel Company Single Barrel – 127.4 proof

• Seelbach 8-Year – 118.3 proof

The Blind Tasting:

Glencairn #1

Color: Deep copper
Nose: Sweet caramel and vanilla with a nutty undertone and a touch of oak
Palate: Creamy and sweet, with baking spice and caramel leading the way; a hint of oak balances the sip
Mouthfeel: Creamy
Finish: Warm and lingering, with cinnamon and caramel on the exit
Score: 84

Glencairn #2

Color: Solid copper
Nose: Oak and ethanol up front, with caramel trailing
Palate: Cinnamon, caramel, and oak dominate, with a subtle hint of cherry
Mouthfeel: Silky
Finish: Warm, with spiced cherry on the back end
Score: 80

Glencairn #3

Color: Copper
Nose: Caramel, pear, mild baking spice, and gentle oak
Palate: Lighter than expected; sweet notes of chocolate, tree fruit, vanilla, and spice
Mouthfeel: Lighter
Finish: Long and warm, with fruit and spice lingering
Score: 81

Glencairn #4

Color: Solid copper
Nose: Rich and inviting—lots of buttery caramel and classic vanilla
Palate: Layered and delicious, with butterscotch, caramel, milk chocolate, and warm baking spices
Mouthfeel: Silky
Finish: Long and buttery with a warm, spicy tail
Score: 85

Thoughts on the Blind:

There were no losers here—only degrees of winning. #2 improved with time, its nose opening up a bit more. #3’s oakiness came and went, leaving behind a lovely sweetness. #1’s ethanol grew a little punchier with air. But in the end, I stuck with my gut: #4 stood out as the best of the bunch—rich, balanced, and memorable.

The Reveal:

• Glencairn #1 – Knob Creek Single Barrel Select

• Glencairn #2 – Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch 34

• Glencairn #3 – Seelbach 8-Year

• Glencairn #4 – New England Barrel Company Single Barrel

Final Rankings:

1. New England Barrel Company Single Barrel

2. Knob Creek Single Barrel Select

3. Seelbach 8-Year

4. Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch 34

Closing Thoughts:

I’ll admit I was surprised by the outcome. The Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend is often the most sought-after of the bunch, but today it came in last. The top two bottles were both recent acquisitions. The Knob Creek was a store pick from Keystone Liquors in Bardstown, Kentucky. The winning bottle—New England Barrel Company’s single barrel—was a gift from a recent fundraiser here in Jacksonville. I’ll share more about that event in my next post.

But for now, I’ll simply say this: each of these four drams was bold, distinctive, and worthy of a tribute. Just like the four men who inspired this tasting. Whether on screen, in the ring, on stage, or over the airwaves, they left their mark.

And like the finish on a great pour, their impact lingers—warm, lasting, and unforgettable.

Let me know if you’d like a shorter version for Instagram or if you want to turn this into a cross-post for both bourbon fans and pop culture followers. This one could easily live in both worlds.

Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt.