Tasting Tuesday: Upsets Brewing in the 95-and-Under Whiskey Challenge

The 95-and-Under Whiskey Challenge is heating up. After two weeks of competition, we already saw Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch (25 seed) pull off a Cinderella run into the Sweet Sixteen, proving that low seeds can still pack a punch. This week brought more drama — a heavyweight showdown, a nail-biter finish, and even a couple of surprising survivors.

Blind #3

Matchups:

(4) Blanton’s Single Barrel vs. (29) Remus Straight Bourbon
(13) Eagle Rare 10-Year vs. (20) Member’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon

The Pours:

Glencairn A: Mid-level amber. Sweet, fruity nose — apples or grapes — with oak and vanilla. Fruit carries through on the palate, creamy mouthfeel, candy-coated peanut finish. Score: 78.6
Glencairn B: Light copper. Butterscotch, baking spice, and brown sugar on the nose. Cinnamon, caramel, oak on the palate. Warm, spicy finish. Score: 79.2
Glencairn C: Modest amber. Toffee, brown sugar, honey nose. Baking spice, vanilla, caramel, fruit, and oak on the palate. Tart cinnamon finish. Score: 74.9
Glencairn D: Deep amber. Classic bourbon nose of butterscotch, vanilla, oak. Palate adds nuttiness and spice. Creamy, nutty-spice finish. Score: 74.8

Thoughts About the Blind:
I was hoping A and B were split up, because they both felt like winners.

The Reveal:

Glencairn A: Remus Straight Bourbon
Glencairn B: Blanton’s Single Barrel
Glencairn C: Eagle Rare 10-Year
Glencairn D: Member’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Results:

Blanton’s Single Barrel (79.2) defeats Remus Straight Bourbon (78.6)
Eagle Rare 10-Year (74.9) defeats Member’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon (74.8)

Upset Watch:
No giant-killers here, but Member’s Mark came this close to knocking out Eagle Rare — a tenth of a point was the difference.

Advancing: Blanton’s Single Barrel and Eagle Rare 10-Year

Blind #4

Matchups:

(5) Daviess County Medium Toasted vs. (28) Jim Beam Black 7-Year
(12) Garrison Brothers Single Barrel vs. (21) Sleight of Hand

The Pours:

Glencairn A: Honey-to-amber. Brown sugar, oak, caramel, berries on the nose. Oak, nuttiness, spice, and vanilla on the palate. Silky mouthfeel. Score: 72.8
Glencairn B: Deep amber. Nose of oak, light smoke, caramel. Leather, cinnamon, butterscotch, and vanilla on the palate. Creamy, spicy finish. Score: 72.7
Glencairn C: Light copper. Nose of oak, honey, vanilla. Chocolate, brown sugar, cinnamon, and oak on the palate. Moderate oak-spice finish. Score: 73.8
Glencairn D: Mahogany. Nose dominated by leather, like a baseball mitt. Palate has sugar, toffee, spice, but leather dominates. Smooth mouthfeel, tart and spicy finish. Score: 72.6

Thoughts About the Blind:
A battle of the also-rans, but some enjoyable pours nonetheless.

The Reveal:

Glencairn A: Jim Beam Black 7-Year
Glencairn B: Daviess County Medium Toasted
Glencairn C: Sleight of Hand
Glencairn D: Garrison Brothers Single Barrel

Results:

Jim Beam Black 7-Year (72.8) defeats Daviess County Medium Toasted (72.7)
Sleight of Hand (73.8) defeats Garrison Brothers Single Barrel (72.6)

Upset Watch:
Beam Black takes down the 5-seed in a razor-thin finish. Sleight of Hand also sneaks through over a big-name craft bottle.

Advancing: Jim Beam Black 7-Year and Sleight of Hand

Sweet Sixteen So Far

Old Forester 117 Series 1910 Extra Extra Old Bourbon
St. Augustine Florida Straight Bourbon
Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch
Elijah Craig 2025 PGA Championship Edition
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Eagle Rare 10-Year
Jim Beam Black 7-Year
Sleight of Hand

🏀 Bracket Watch

Closest Call: Eagle Rare 10-Year survives Member’s Mark by just 0.1 points. One of the closest calls of the Challenge so far.
Biggest Upset: Jim Beam Black (28 seed) knocking off Daviess County Medium Toasted (5 seed). That’s bracket-busting material.
Top Performer: Blanton’s Single Barrel, earning the week’s highest score at 79.2. Smooth, spicy, and balanced.

Coming Next Tuesday

We’re halfway home — 16 bottles down, 16 to go. Next week, we’ll see another Old Forester, two Benchmarks, an Evan Williams, and a Weller step into the spotlight. Will a top seed dominate, or will another Cinderella run shake up the bracket?