Bourbon Bracketology

[Bourbon Boiler]

This is a great idea! :bowdown:

My wife would probably get tired of pouring for me so it is blind -- do you have some other methodology for setting up the blind tasting that you can do on your own?

Steve

My wife will tire of this early, and my daughter at age three isn't up to the challenge. I considered using rocks glasses, wrapping the bottom half in aluminum foil, and putting a mark on the bottom to identify them. I'd give myself enough time to forget after setting them up. I haven't really fgured this out yet. I not only want to forget which glass is which, but which matchup I'm on.

[Bourbon Boiler]

I didn't bother to make them blind, but in early action number one seeds Pappys 23 and 20 advanced in the Angel's Share and Barrel Char regions repsectively over a pair of homemade aging projects. Blanton's also cruised to an easy victory over JB Devil's Cut in a blind tasting in the Rickhouse Region. Some closer matchups are anticipated this evening.

[Bourbon Boiler]

I know it's a "bourbon" bracket -- but ESPN is crying about Jack Daniels having their bubble burst!

Steve

[Bourbon Boiler]

A few minor upsets in the closing session of the evening. In the Angel's Share Region, #11 Sazerac Rye upset #6 Basil Hayden. This was made all the more shocking since I've never had a positive thing to say about Saz in the past. It's amazing what tasting blind will do. I wonder if this would have gone differently if this matchup would have been earlier with a fresher pallette. With the taste buds dulled, there's not a lot to pick up with BH and I found it very boring. I also wasn't overpowered with the pine taste from Baby Saz, which I usually am. But, that's the beauty of a single elimination tournament, you have to overcome bad circumstances and bad matchups.

Also in the Angel's Region, #9 Elmer T. Lee scored a minor upset over #8 Single Oak #67. I recognized Elmer despite it being blind, but still a solid victory.

In the Barrel Char region, #7 Eagle Rare 10 needed an overtime session to defeat #10 EC18. I tried to taste each bourbon twice before deciding, but I tasted each three times before leaning toward ER10.

The tournament as it now stands is attached.

[Bourbon Boiler]

A few results from this evening's matchups. #4 WTKS cruised to a victory over #13 Fighting Cock. In an upset, #11 1792 Ridgemont (TPS Private Barrel) showed the field that it was underseeded, and knocked off #6 Baker's.

Since much of bracket analysis in March revolves around conference affiliation, it should be noted that the Beam Small Batch collection is 0-2, having been upset twice.

[Bourbon Boiler]

Here is the bracket as it now stands.

Bourbon Bracketology.pdf

Bourbon Bracketology.pdf

[SMOWK]

This is excellent. Well done!

[cigarnv]

Well done!! What Willett will you be using?

[Bourbon Boiler]

It took some time, but the Beam Small Batch collection is on the board. Knob Creek narrowly defeated Wild Turkey 101. I went back and forth on these several times, and kept liking whichever I tried second more. Turkey goes down, but has three of it's older brothers (KS, AS, Trad) still alive.

[Steve99]

I went back and forth on these several times, and kept liking whichever I tried second more.

[Bourbon Boiler]

I've had this happen to me as well, but only when I do blind tasting. Sometimes it's which one I try first, sometimes the second, but many times the order matters. I think blind makes me pay more attention to my senses, but it is a pain to set up.

This is great fun! I'm glad you came up with the idea. After seeing Duke and Missouri bite the dust, it's more fun for me to see how this bracket emerges!

Steve

[Bourbon Boiler]

I outsourced a few of the tastings to some interested parties, as I was not going to be able to get my hands on all of the appropriate bottles in a timely manner. Here is the bracket with 22 or 32 first round matchups completed.

Bourbon Bracketology.pdf

[Bourbon Boiler]

Here is the latest. Unfortunately, due to some changes in plan the remainder of matchups have bottles that won't see each other for a few weekends. If any SB members have both bottles in any remaining 1st round matchup, please respond and you can officiate a few games as well.

Bourbon Bracketology.pdf

[Young Blacksmith]

Which Willet do you have up against 4R1B? If it's the pot still I can officiate that one.

[AaronWF]

Here is the latest. Unfortunately, due to some changes in plan the remainder of matchups have bottles that won't see each other for a few weekends. If any SB members have both bottles in any remaining 1st round matchup, please respond and you can officiate a few games as well.

I have a Lot B open and CEHT1B open with BabySaz and VOB BiB in the bunker. I'd rather open my VOB than BabySaz at the moment, but my Lot B is older and much better than the more recent stuff I've had. Also, my CEHT1B is in its final phase and is drinking better than ever, so pitting it against a newly opened BabySaz might be a little unfair.

I also have some Stagg open, I'd just have to go pick up the RR 10/90. Or I could just skip it and say I did it and Stagg can move on...

[StraightBoston]

I can do WLW vs. OGD, as I'm sure many others can. (I can also tell you which will win, as I'm sure many others can!)

I wish I still had some Lot B, because I think the Lot B vs. VOB matchup will be a close one -- both are understated.

[Steve99]

I'm happy to pick up the OGD 114 vs. Jefferson Rye. Should be good match up. I like them both!

[Bourbon Boiler]

Which Willet do you have up against 4R1B? If it's the pot still I can officiate that one.

It can be open ended. I'll update it and make it the pot still. The matchup is yours.

[Bourbon Boiler]

I have a Lot B open and CEHT1B open with BabySaz and VOB BiB in the bunker. I'd rather open my VOB than BabySaz at the moment, but my Lot B is older and much better than the more recent stuff I've had. Also, my CEHT1B is in its final phase and is drinking better than ever, so pitting it against a newly opened BabySaz might be a little unfair.

I also have some Stagg open, I'd just have to go pick up the RR 10/90. Or I could just skip it and say I did it and Stagg can move on...

The Lot B v. VOB matchup is yours.

[Bourbon Boiler]

I can do WLW vs. OGD, as I'm sure many others can. (I can also tell you which will win, as I'm sure many others can!)

I wish I still had some Lot B, because I think the Lot B vs. VOB matchup will be a close one -- both are understated.

You can take the OGD Orange against WLW. I already have the winner penciled in, but hey, a 14 beating a 3 isn't unheard of.

[Bourbon Boiler]

I'm happy to pick up the OGD 114 vs. Jefferson Rye. Should be good match up. I like them both!

It's all yours. Thanks to all of the volunteer participants!

[StraightBoston]

You can take the OGD Orange against WLW. I already have the winner penciled in, but hey, a 14 beating a 3 isn't unheard of.

This round was held last night but results lost to a sea of "Database error" messages. Favorite WLW (post-graduate class of 2005) did indeed crush OGD 86, which came off thin and grainy in comparison.

I can also "officiate" WLW vs. Knob Creek in Round 2, though as a professed wheater fan, I might be accused of home cooking.

[BroInBourbonMD]

I have selected 64 whiskeys according to my collection, friends' collections, and general availability. I have seeded them based upon formal reviews, price point, and hype. Over the course of the NCAA Tournament, I plan sample them against each other and declare a champion. A few notes:

1. The tasting will be as blind as possible, but there will be limitations.

2. The seeds were altered a bit to avoid matchups of very similar products in early rounds.

3. In the event that I do not have both drinks available on the correct night, I will rely on others who have both available to report a winner.

4. I will follow the tournament schedule loosely - I have no intention of drinking 32 different whiskeys both Thurday and Friday.

Let the fun begin!!!

Well done!!! When we first started talking about this I thought it was actually just going to be something within out little bourbon group, but this is much better! My deepest apologies for underestimating your bourbon obsession...I will not let it happen again. :bowdown:

Can you send me the latest bracket to see where I can help out...now that most of the low seeds are out, my collection will likely led itself to more of the match ups.

[AaronWF]

The Lot B v. VOB matchup is yours.

Well Lot B advances, against my odds despite it's higher ranking. The Lot B was a 2008 bottle, much, much more flavorful than the more recent bottles I've had, and to add, it was the end of the bottle. The VOB BiB was cracked for the tasting and was quite a bit overwhelming with bananas.

A more recent Lot B vs. a VOB with some air may have ended quite differently. But from what I had to work with, the Lot B moves ahead.

[Steve99]

It's all yours. Thanks to all of the volunteer participants!

In a mild upset, OGD 114 beats out the Jefferson Rye. Both played well throughout. Great nose, taste, and finish. However they play completly different styles, and the OGD just out-muscled the Jefferson Rye underneath the bucket. Jefferson Rye had great finesse, and gave lots of lighter but complex nose and flavor, but in the end it couldn't overcome the big bold taste of the OGD.

Steve