What a cool matchup we have in store tonight. We are featuring the world’s top two selling bourbons by volume (if you set aside that one from Tennessee that doesn’t want to be called a bourbon). Jim Beam is the world’s top-selling bourbon and Evan Williams is right behind them at number two. I didn’t plan this, it was luck of the seeding that set these two titans against each other, but that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t super excited once I realized it.
First up is our number two seed for Division One. Coming in at 86 proof and looking so good in black, please welcome: Evan Williams!
And its opponent is the number one selling bourbon across the world. Behemoth barely begins to describe this white-labeled giant, please welcome: Jim Beam!
Reminder, all of the competitions this year were tasted blind and we knew the winner of the competition prior to any reveal. Notes, thoughts, and conclusions were all from before we knew what was what. Needless to say, some of my conclusions were surprising to me. Tasting notes may be a little unusual since they were being tasted at the same time and could have influenced the perceptions of one another.
Whiskey 1 (Evan Williams)
Purchase Info: $12.99 for a 1-liter bottle, Total Wine, Burnsville, MN
Price Per Drink (50 mL): $0.65
Details: 43% ABV.
Nose: Spearmint, caramel, and nutmeg.
Mouth: Caramel, mint, cinnamon candies.
Finish: Shorter side of medium. Notes of cinnamon and peanut butter cookies.
Thoughts: Not bad. Not bad at all. Classic value bourbon flavor profile.
Whiskey 2 (Jim Beam)
Purchase Info: $13.99 for a 750 mL bottle, Total Wine, Burnsville, MN
Price Per Drink (50 mL): $0.93
Details: 40% ABV.
Nose: Peanut, caramel, green vegetables.
Mouth: Thin mouthfeel. Caramel and cinnamon.
Finish: Medium length and warm. Peanuts and dried grains.
Thoughts: Even blind, I think I know what this is. The distinctive peanut note gives it away. though considering at least half of the participants are made by-or source from- Beam, I am fully prepared to be wrong. I like the finish, the mouth leaves a bit to be desired and I'm ambivalent regarding the nose.
Winner: I like the finish on #2 better but I prefer the nose and mouth on #1. #1 wins.
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