March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—First Round Matchups 25-28

Opening Pour

We’re closing in on the end of the first round. At this stage, good bottles are no longer enough. Balance, texture, and finish are determining who survives. This group delivered a couple of comfortable wins and one matchup where proof and structure made the difference.

Let’s get into it.

🥃 Matchup 25 — Blind

SS vs. JJ

Blind Tasting Notes

Color: Deep copper
Nose: Rich and buttery; brown sugar, cherries, nutmeg
Palate: Cherry Sweet-Tarts up front; toffee, cinnamon, oak follow
Mouthfeel: Creamy
Finish: Wonderful; tart cherries and toffee lead
Score: 87.89

Color: Rich copper
Nose: Light chocolate, rich caramel, hint of sweet cherries
Palate: Cherries forward; caramel, chocolate, cinnamon follow
Mouthfeel: Borderline creamy
Finish: Soft; cherries turn tart, caramel fades
Score: 83.55

Reveal & Result

SS: Old Forester 1910 117 Series Extra Extra Old (#3)
JJ: Yellowstone Toasted Barrel (#62)

✅ Winner: Old Forester 1910 117 Series Extra Extra Old (#3)
➡️ Advances to Round 2

Post-Matchup Thoughts

SS brought depth and a structured sweetness that held from nose through finish. JJ was pleasant, but it lacked the same intensity and staying power.

What decided it:

Greater richness and a more decisive finish.

🥃 Matchup 26 — Blind

H vs. M

Blind Tasting Notes

Color: Deep copper
Nose: Butterscotch, baking spice, vanilla, oak; hints of mint and apricot
Palate: Rye-leaning spice; caramel lingers
Mouthfeel: Warm and luscious
Finish: Nice but not spectacular; spice and fruit linger
Score: 81.48

Color: Light copper
Nose: Light peanuts, vanilla, caramel, touch of oak
Palate: Hot but creamy; peanut butter, brown sugar, caramel, oak
Mouthfeel: Rich creaminess
Finish: Caramel and baking spice linger
Score: 82.03

Reveal & Result

H: Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye (#30)
M: Old Grand-dad 114 (#35)

✅ Winner: Old Grand-dad 114 (#35)
➡️ Advances to Round 2

Post-Matchup Thoughts

This one came down to texture and flavor adhesion. H showed some complexity, but M’s creamier mouthfeel carried the flavors longer and more confidently.

What decided it:

Stronger mouthfeel and better flavor persistence.

🥃 Matchup 27 — Blind

K vs. A

Blind Tasting Notes

Color: Deep amber
Nose: Slightly muted; ethanol, mild vanilla, citrus, warm baking spice
Palate: Spicy start; buttery caramel, vanilla, citrus
Mouthfeel: Creamy
Finish: Caramel and baking spice linger
Score: 82.46

Color: Mid-copper
Nose: Peanuts, caramel, ethanol, mild baking spice
Palate: Dusty peanuts forward; vanilla, caramel, cinnamon trail
Mouthfeel: Decent
Finish: Caramel and cinnamon close
Score: 79.53

Reveal & Result

K: Seelbach’s Beekeeper (#14)
A: Wild Turkey Rare Breed (#51)

✅ Winner: Seelbach’s Beekeeper (#14)
➡️ Advances to Round 2

Post-Matchup Thoughts

K wasn’t explosive, but it was balanced and cohesive. A brought familiar peanut-forward notes but didn’t quite match the structure or integration of K.

What decided it:

Better balance and cleaner finish execution.

🥃 Matchup 28 — Blind

EE vs. T

Blind Tasting Notes

Color: Rich copper
Nose: Milk chocolate, caramel, light oak
Palate: Spice first; chocolate caramels and light oak follow
Mouthfeel: Silky
Finish: Oak and chocolate dominate
Score: 80.40

Color: Mid-copper
Nose: Ethanol with buttery toffee, caramel, nutmeg
Palate: Heat and spice early; caramel, vanilla emerge
Mouthfeel: Silky
Finish: Longer than expected; spice, caramel, vanilla
Score: 79.75

Reveal & Result

EE: 13th Colony Bourbon Barrel Strength (#19)
T: Maker’s Mark Heart Release ’24 (#46)

✅ Winner: 13th Colony Bourbon Barrel Strength (#19)
➡️ Advances to Round 2

Post-Matchup Thoughts

This was tighter than the scores suggest. EE delivered clearer chocolate definition and slightly better structure through the finish. T showed promise, but the early ethanol softened its impact.

What decided it:

Cleaner flavor clarity and slightly stronger finish presence.

🔀 Second-Round Matchups Created

Old Forester 1910 117 Series Extra Extra Old (#3)
vs.
Old Grand-dad 114 (#35)
Seelbach’s Beekeeper (#14)
vs.
13th Colony Bourbon Barrel Strength (#19)

Closing Reflections

Old Forester continues to flex serious bracket strength. High proof still matters—but only when structure and texture support it. Peanut-forward classics remain competitive, but dessert-driven complexity continues to separate the field.

One group remains in Round 1. Then the real fights begin. I’ll see you here tomorrow for the last group in the first round.