I’ve had suggestions that the first two rounds may have been unfair contests due to the difference in the proof of the contestants. Well, those concerns should be put to rest tonight as we feature a pair of contestants that are only 2% ABV different from one another. Round 1 of the 2020 BourbonGuy.com Bottom Shelf Brackets continues with Division 1 Number 2 seed Elijah Craig versus Number 3 seed Maker’s Mark.
First up, the formerly twelve-year-old release from Heaven Hill. Now non-age stated but claimed to be around eight years old. Named for the man that Heaven Hill’s marketing department claims is “the Father of Bourbon,” please welcome to the stage: Elijah Craig!!!
And their opponent, the bourbon that once advertised itself as “it tastes expensive because it is” but is now available in the sub $25 range. Please welcome one of my favorite bourbons: Maker’s Mark!!!
We strive to have a clean competition so these were tasted blind in the following order. Tasting notes are from before the reveal and may be a little unusual since they were being tasted at the same time and may influence one another.
Whiskey 1 (Maker’s Mark)
Purchase Info: $19.99 for a 750 mL bottle, Blue Max, Burnsville, MN
Details: 45% ABV.
Nose: Spearmint, nutmeg, vanilla, caramel.
Mouth: Follows the nose with mint, nutmeg, vanilla, caramel.
Finish: Longer side of medium. Spearmint, caramel, nutmeg.
Whiskey 2 (Elijah Craig)
Purchase Info: $21.98 for a 750 mL bottle, Ace Spirits, Hopkins, MN
Details: 47% ABV.
Nose: Oak, cinnamon, strawberry candy.
Mouth: Cinnamon, oak, butterscotch.
Finish: Medium length. Cinnamon, old-fashioned strawberry candy.
Pre-reveal Thoughts: I really like both of these. A lot. I am going to have to be super nit-picky in order to come up with a winner. There is a very slight sharp "punky" oak note to number two that number one does not have. Even this isn't so much of a flaw as a preference. And I prefer number one by a very slight margin.
Post-Reveal Thoughts: Close one tonight. Had to really nit-pick to choose a winner. And picking that nit lead to an upset. Number three seed Maker’s Mark advances over Number two seed Elijah Craig.
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