Tag Archives: Bourbon Bracket

March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Final Four and Championship

Posted on April 6, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The bracket comes down to depth versus dessert. Far Better outlasts a loaded field with layered complexity and a finish that simply wouldn’t quit, edging Toasted Pecan in a category-by-category championship battle. Sixty-four bottles entered. One remained. Continue reading →

Posted in Bourbon | Tagged Barrel Proof, best of the shelf challenge, Blind Bourbon Tasting, Bourbon Bracket, Bourbon Review, CapnPen, cask strength bourbon, Championship Round, Far Better, Far Better Cask Strength, Final Four, Jack Daniel’s Toasted Pecan, Nashtucky 7 Year, Whiskey Blog, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked | Leave a comment

March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Elite 8

Posted on April 4, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The Elite Eight delivered razor-thin margins and decisive finishes. Far Better edges Sweet Mash on texture, Nashtucky outlasts a barrel-proof favorite, Toasted Pecan flexes its banana-toffee edge, and Woodford Double Oaked leans fully into dessert mode. The Final Four is set—and every remaining pour is built on depth and finish. Continue reading →

Posted in Bourbon | Tagged Barrel Proof Bourbon, best of the shelf challenge, Blind Tasting, Bourbon Bracket, CapnPen, cask strength, Dessert Profile Bourbon, Elite Eight, Far Better, Far Better Cask Strength, Jack Daniel’s Toasted Pecan, Nashtucky 7 Year, whiskey review, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked | Leave a comment

March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Very Sweet 16 Matchups 5-8

Posted on April 2, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The Sweet 16 wraps with decisive finishes and a few statement wins. Old Forester Single Barrel edges a classic, Toasted Pecan keeps rolling, 13th Colony flexes its depth, and Woodford Double Oaked advances on sweet persistence. The Elite Eight is officially set—and every remaining pour is a threat. Continue reading →

Posted in Bourbon | Tagged 13th Colony Cask Strength, 1792 Full Proof, best of the shelf challenge, Blind Tasting, Bourbon Bracket, CapnPen, Jack Daniel’s Toasted Pecan, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend, Old Forester Single Barrel, Oloroso Cask, Sweet 16, whiskey review, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked | Leave a comment

March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Very Sweet 16 Matchups 1-4

Posted on March 31, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The Sweet 16 opens with four heavyweights advancing on depth, viscosity, and finish length. Far Better flexes, Sweet Mash survives a near coin-flip, a barrel-proof Jack storms through, and Nashtucky proves its layered complexity. Half the Elite Eight is set—the rest will be decided next. Continue reading →

Posted in Bourbon | Tagged Barrel Proof Bourbon, best of the shelf challenge, Blind Tasting, Bourbon Bracket, CapnPen, cask strength, Far Better, Far Better Cask Strength, Jack Daniel’s Sweet Mash, Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Proof, Nashtucky 7 Year, Sweet 16, whiskey review | Leave a comment

March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Second Round Matchups 13-16

Posted on March 29, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Round 2 closes with depth, dessert profiles, and a few decisive finishes. Old Forester’s 117 moves on, 13th Colony flexes its complexity, Oloroso proves its smoky edge, and Woodford Double Oaked does what it does best—linger. The Sweet 16 is set, and the margin for error is gone. Continue reading →

Posted in Bourbon | Tagged 13th Colony Cask Strength, best of the shelf challenge, Blind Tasting, Bourbon Bracket, Bourbon Review, CapnPen, Green River Single Barrel, High West Chardonnay Cask, Jack Daniel’s Oloroso Cask, Old Forester 117 Series, old grand-dad 114, Round 2, Seelbach’s Beekeeper, Whiskey Blog, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked | Leave a comment

March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Second Round Matchups 9-12

Posted on March 28, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Round 2 continues to separate depth from durability. Old Forester flexes again, Magnus edges a tight one, Toasted Pecan rolls, and 1792 Full Proof proves it belongs in the conversation. Chocolate, cherries, and caramel keep showing up—but integration and finish are deciding who survives. Continue reading →

Posted in Bourbon | Tagged 1792 Full Proof, best of the shelf challenge, Blind Tasting, Bourbon Bracket, Bourbon Review, CapnPen, Jack Daniel’s Toasted Pecan, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend, Old Forester 1897, Old Forester 1920, Old Forester Single Barrel, Penelope Marshmallow Toasted, Round 2, Still Austin Single Barrel, Whiskey Blog | Leave a comment

March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Second Round Matchups 5-8

Posted on March 26, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Round 2 keeps tightening the bracket as chocolate-heavy powerhouses, fruit-forward surprises, and texture-driven contenders battle for a spot in the Sweet 16. Mouthfeel and finish are proving to be the difference-makers as the field narrows and the margin for error disappears. Continue reading →

Posted in Bourbon | Tagged best of the shelf challenge, Blind Tasting, Bourbon Bracket, Bourbon Review, CapnPen, Company Seismic Rye, Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Proof, Kentucky Owl, Nashtucky 7 Year, Noah's Mill, Rebel Single Barrel, Seelbachs, Whiskey Tasting, Wolcott Rickhouse Reserve | Leave a comment

March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Second Round Matchups 1-4

Posted on March 24, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Round 2 raises the stakes as four more blind matchups narrow the field. A rye flexes its balance, a cask-strength heavyweight proves its depth, Sweet Mash humbles a favorite, and a blend edges out a veteran in a razor-close finish. Texture and finish continue to separate contenders from pretenders. Continue reading →

Posted in Bourbon | Tagged Barrel Proof Rye, best of the shelf challenge, Blind Tasting, Bourbon Bracket, Brothers of the Leaf, Far Better, Far Better Cask Strength, Jack Daniels, Round 2, Sweet Mash, whiskey review | Leave a comment

March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—First Round Matchups 29-32

Posted on March 22, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Round 1 is officially complete. The final four blind matchups delivered chocolate-heavy upsets, a dominant Oloroso finish, and another reminder that texture wins tournaments. A few big names fell. A few sleepers are heating up. The bracket tightens from here. Continue reading →

Posted in Bourbon | Tagged best of the shelf challenge, Blind Bourbon Tasting, Bourbon Bracket, Bourbon Review, Bourbon Tournament, Chattanooga Experimental, Cooper’s Craft 100 Proof, Four Roses OESO, Green River Single Barrel, High West Chardonnay Cask, Jack Daniel’s Oloroso Cask, Old Forester 1910, Round of 64, whiskey review, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked | Leave a comment

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

Posted on March 21, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Four more blinds, four more bottles headed home. Old Forester flexed its muscle again, Old Grand-dad proved that texture can outweigh complexity, and a pair of tightly contested matchups showed just how thin the margin is between advancing and packing it in. The first round is almost complete—and the bracket is starting to reveal its true contenders. Continue reading →

Posted in Bourbon | Tagged 13th Colony Barrel Strength, best of the shelf challenge, Blind Tasting, Bourbon Bracket, Bourbon Tournament, CapnPen, Maker’s Mark Heart Release, Old Forester 1910 117 Series, old grand-dad 114, Seelbach’s Beekeeper, whiskey review, Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye, Yellowstone Toasted | Leave a comment

Tag Archives: Bourbon Bracket

March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Final Four and Championship

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March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Elite 8

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March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Very Sweet 16 Matchups 5-8

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March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Very Sweet 16 Matchups 1-4

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March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Second Round Matchups 13-16

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March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Second Round Matchups 9-12

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March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Second Round Matchups 5-8

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March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—Second Round Matchups 1-4

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March Bourbon Madness: Best-of-the-Shelf Challenge—First Round Matchups 29-32

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