Tonight we feature a fan favorite in Heaven Hill’s Evan Williams Bottled in Bond against a bourbon that has been considered and rejected multiple times for the competition. Colonel Lee is a bourbon that currently says it is “Bottled by Barton Distilling Company.” They do not list this brand on any of the Sazerac websites though apparently, it isn’t a new brand. This is either going to be a pleasant surprise or ass-whooping. Let’s see how it goes.
First up is our overall number one seed. Coming in at 100° proof, at least four years old, and the product of one distilling, please welcome: Evan Williams Bottled in Bond who is competing under the random, yet oddly appropriate, name of Arctic Mama.
And its opponent, who is looking so striking in an orange suit and competing under the name Sonic Berry, please welcome: Colonel Lee!
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.
Arctic Mama (Evan Williams Bottled in Bond)
Purchase Info: $28.49 for a 1.75-liter bottle, Total Wine, Burnsville, MN
Price Per Drink (50 mL): $0.81
Details: 50% ABV.
Nose: Mint, nutmeg, and honey
Mouth: Honey, mint, nutmeg, caramel, and cinnamon.
Finish: Medium length and warmth. Notes of butterscotch and oatmeal.
Thoughts: That's pretty good.
Sonic Berry (Colonel Lee)
Purchase Info: $21.97 for a 1.75-liter bottle, Viking Liquor Barrel, Prior Lake, MN
Price Per Drink (50 mL): $0.63
Details: 40% ABV. Aged 36 months.
Nose: Mint, dried grain, and an unpleasant earthy note.
Mouth: Fermented grain and mint.
Finish: Short but warm. Heavy on dried grain.
Thoughts: This is unpleasant. It will probably be dumped when we are finished.
Winner: From the first hint of Sonic Berry's nose, I knew Arctic Mama was the winner. Arctic Mama tastes like bourbon. Sonic Mama tastes like too many shots, hangovers, and bad decisions that you can't quite remember in the morning. Arctic Mama (Evan Williams Bottled in Bond) advances to round 2.
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