This is where the bracket tightens.

By now, everything left has earned its place. There are no easy matchups. Richness continues to dominate, but mouthfeel and finish are still the deciding factors. A couple of favorites advanced comfortably. One matchup was closer than expected. And a smoky outlier made things interesting.

Let’s close out Round 2.

🥃 Matchup 13 — Blind

X vs. Y

Blind Tasting Notes

X

• Color: Rich mahogany
• Nose: Cherries, chocolate, butterscotch, nutmeg, mild oak
• Palate: Oak, nutmeg, dark chocolate, toffee
• Mouthfeel: Thinner than expected
• Finish: Tart cherries, caramel and baking spice linger
• Score: 85.06

Y

• Color: Mid-copper
• Nose: Subtle but buttery; oak and caramel
• Palate: Oak forward, followed by butterscotch, cinnamon and caramel
• Mouthfeel: Just shy of creamy
• Finish: Tart oak, spice, cherry and caramel linger
• Score: 82.68

Reveal & Result

X: Old Forester 117 Series 1910 Extra Extra Old (#3)
Y: Old Grand-Dad 114 (#35)

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

Post-Matchup Thoughts

X wasn’t perfect — the thinner mouthfeel showed — but the flavor depth was undeniable. Y was steady and reliable, but lacked the same richness.

What decided it:
Superior flavor intensity despite lighter texture.

🥃 Matchup 14 — Blind

K vs. H

Blind Tasting Notes

K

• Color: Light copper
• Nose: Savory caramel, citrus and baking spice
• Palate: Toffee, citrus, nutmeg
• Mouthfeel: Creamy
• Finish: Orange peel, toffee and oak linger
• Score: 83.22

H

• Color: Rich copper
• Nose: Butterscotch, milk chocolate, nutmeg, light oak
• Palate: Oak, leather, brown sugar, creamy caramel, mild baking spice
• Mouthfeel: Creamy
• Finish: Oak, brown sugar and spice highlight the close
• Score: 89.30

Reveal & Result

K: Seelbach’s The Beekeeper (#14)
H: 13th Colony Cask Strength Bourbon (#19)

✅ Winner: 13th Colony Cask Strength Bourbon (#19)
➡️ Advances to Round 3

Post-Matchup Thoughts

H brought complexity and structure. K was pleasant and balanced, but H simply operated at a higher tier.

What decided it:
Layered complexity and stronger finish structure.

🥃 Matchup 15 — Blind

G vs. DD

Blind Tasting Notes

G

• Color: Rich copper
• Nose: Creamy chocolate, mild baking spice, light oak
• Palate: Drying oak with chocolate-caramel, nutmeg and tart cherries
• Mouthfeel: Silky
• Finish: Warm but mild; oak and caramel lead
• Score: 81.92

DD

• Color: Rich copper
• Nose: Slight smokiness with chocolate, caramel and toffee
• Palate: Creamy caramel, milk chocolate, cherries and cinnamon with smoky undertone
• Mouthfeel: Rich
• Finish: Chocolate and toffee linger
• Score: 84.74

Reveal & Result

G: High West Chardonnay Cask (#59)
DD: Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Oloroso Cask (#27)

✅ Winner: Jack Daniel’s Oloroso Cask (#27)
➡️ Advances to Round 3

Post-Matchup Thoughts

The smoky nuance gave DD an edge. G was solid, but DD had more dimension and finish presence.

What decided it:
Distinctiveness and richer mouthfeel.

🥃 Matchup 16 — Blind

CC vs. U

Blind Tasting Notes

CC

• Color: Mahogany
• Nose: Savory toffee, chocolate and oak
• Palate: Dark chocolate, tart cherries, toffee and cinnamon
• Mouthfeel: Creamy
• Finish: Cherries and toffee dominate
• Score: 89.19

U

• Color: Rich copper
• Nose: Buttery toffee, brown sugar and nutmeg
• Palate: Leather, caramel and savory spice
• Mouthfeel: Nice and structured
• Finish: Oak dominates over other flavors
• Score: 84.09

Reveal & Result

CC: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked (#54)
U: Green River Single Barrel (#22)

✅ Winner: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked (#54)
➡️ Advances to Round 3

Post-Matchup Thoughts

This was a classic Woodford performance — layered, dessert-driven and persistent. U was good, but couldn’t overcome the oak dominance on the finish.

What decided it:
Creamy texture and superior dessert profile.

🔀 Sweet 16 Matchups Created

Old Forester 117 Series 1910 Extra Extra Old (#3)
vs.
13th Colony Cask Strength Bourbon (#19)

Jack Daniel’s Oloroso Cask (#27)
vs.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked (#54)

Closing Reflections

Round 2 is complete.

The Sweet 16 field is loaded with:

• Multiple Old Forester heavyweights
• Jack Daniel’s special releases that refuse to go away
• A couple of cask-strength bruisers
• At least one dessert-style assassin

From here on out, there are no easy pours.