Four Roses Single Barrel Collection, 2026

I’d like to thank Four Roses and their PR team for providing this review sample with no strings attached

In 1995, Four Roses launched Four Roses Single Barrel, OBSV, to much rejoicing from the masses (actually, as I was a freshman in college at the time, I have no idea if there was much rejoicing or just a collective shrug from the masses, but stick with me here). After 20 years of whining and complaining from people like me, they finally started to let us taste the other nine bourbons that they make, in single barrel form, by releasing the first installment of the Four Roses Single Barrel Collection. Now, these bourbons had been available as Private Barrel Picks for a long time, but those were at a higher proof and a higher price.

But until last year, they had never sold them in a package that was accessible to the average Joe or Jane—one unwilling to spend high prices and go on unicorn hunts to the stores that carried the ones they were looking for. Enter the Four Roses Single Barrel Collection. An annually rotating collection of three red-labeled recipes that are proofed and priced the same as the standard brown-labeled Four Roses Single Barrel. I was extremely excited to see last year’s release and even more excited to see it coming back again this year.

And if this sounds like I am a biased and enthusiastic fanboy for this product, I am. I’ve been a Four Roses fanboy since I was first getting into whiskey oh so many years ago. In fact, I can easily say that in 2025, I spent more money and bought more bottles of the 2025 collection than I did on all other bourbons combined. I must have purchased at least six or seven of each from my local corner liquor store. Maybe more. As long as it was on the shelf, it was my go-to pour. And I liked them all, so I’m referring to them interchangeably in this. And yes, I’m even more excited for this year.

You see, I’ve always been a huge fan of the Q yeast releases. I was chatting with Master Distiller Brent Elliott one time and mentioned that fact. He noted that I am one of the few who tell him that. I also love the F and the other yeasts too, but something about that floral Q just hits right with me. The herbal F is usually a close second, and the fruit and spice of the rest are right up there too. I just love Four Roses all around.

I was happy to see an F release last year, but I’m even more excited that this year’s release features both an F and a Q release. The 2026 releases are as follows: OESQ, which features the Q yeast and a mash bill of 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley; OESF, which features the F yeast and the same mash bill; and OBSK, which features the spicy K yeast and the higher-rye mash bill of 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley. They also sent a “control” sample of the standard OBSV Single Barrel. It features the fruity V yeast and the same high-rye mash bill as the OBSK. These are all bottled at 100 proof and were aged between seven and nine years. The suggested retail price is $49.99 per 750 mL bottle.

So let’s dig in..

Four Roses Single Barrel Collection, 2026

Purchase Info: These samples were sent to me at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price for each bottle is $49.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.33

Details: Each recipe is aged 7 to 9 years and bottled at 50% ABV.

OBSK:

Nose: Juicy fruit gum, cinnamon candies, stone fruits, and mint.

Mouth: Cinnamon, oak, stone fruits, and mint.

Finish: Medium in warmth and length. Lingering notes of fruit, mint, cinnamon, and toffee.

OESF:

Nose: Fresh garden herbs, strong caramel, vanilla, and a hint of cinnamon.

Mouth: Herbal, with notes of caramel, oak, vanilla, and cinnamon supporting it.

Finish: Warm and on the longer side of medium length. Very herbal, with notes of cinnamon, black pepper, and oak.

OESQ:

Nose: Floral vanilla, brown sugar, and a hint of baking spices. Basically, this smells like a delicious fresh-baked sugar cookie.

Mouth: Cinnamon spice, floral vanilla, mint, and oak.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Notes of sugar cookie (floral vanilla, a hint of cinnamon, and brown sugar) and wintergreen.

Thoughts: I'm going to guess that the folks at Four Roses were searching for the barrels that fulfilled the stereotype for each of these recipes, because what is the point of showing the differences off, if the barrel is just going to take over and obscure them? In this case, OESQ sample was very floral and the Q yeast is the floral one. Same with the herbal F and the sample of OESF: very herbal. Same with K and the spiciness. I love that. It's extremely fun to taste these side-by-side, and I hope each of you has that opportunity. If not, if I had to rank them, I'd say:

1. OESQ

2. OESF

3. OBSK

4. OBSV (the standard single barrel release)

My wife on the other hand had her ranking as:

1. OBSK

2. OESQ

3. OBSV (the standard single barrel release)

4. OESF

I'm usually a big fan of F and Q, whereas she is more of a K, O, and V girl, just so you know our biases. But all are very good, and I'm guessing that for a second year in a row I'll be spending more on these releases than all other bourbon combined. They are both delicious and relatively affordable when compared to the rest of today’s bourbon market. I really like these and cannot wait for them to hit shelves.

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Redemption Bourbon (2026 Revamp)

I’d like to thank the folks at Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits and their PR partners for providing this sample with no strings attached.

Do you remember a couple of weeks ago when we were doing the BourbonGuy Brackets? I had one matchup where I said both of the competitors were “products in transition.” Well, shortly after I published the results of the bracket competition, I got an email from the producers of one of those products, completely coincidentally. They were announcing the new bottle and proof of Redemption Bourbon—an announcement that I had apparently scooped by looking at their website.

I immediately asked for a sample to be sent to me. I was very interested to give the proof bump a thorough look. When it arrived, I noticed that it also had a higher stated age than previously, having gone from a 2-year-old at 88 proof to a 3-year-old at 92 proof. All good things, especially since it is still distilled in Indiana (assuming MGP) and there is some fantastic bourbon coming out of there even at a younger age.

I am not a reporter. I don’t break news, hell I don’t even really report it. But it tickles me that they reached out days after I published my accidental “scoop.” I like fun coincidences—they make life interesting. Anyway, here’s what the brand has to say about their revamp:

At the heart of the relaunch is Redemption’s new bottle design. Dramatic and symbolic, the refreshed packaging features an eagle in mid-flight, formed from rye with its wings spread wide. More than a design evolution, the eagle represents courage and ambition—leaving the safety of the ground for the unknown horizon. It embodies Redemption’s refreshed brand philosophy: Choose Redemption. Rise Above. A symbol of resilience and forward momentum, the new bottle captures the spirit of Redemption’s next act: fearless, confident, and rooted in the attitude and soul that defines its rye-built whiskeys.

Prompted by a trademark dispute initiated by a competitor a few years ago, Redemption took the opportunity to reimagine its brand identity, beginning with its packaging. Rather than looking backward, the brand chose to move forward, transforming a challenge into a catalyst for reinvention. The new bottle stands as a visible symbol of that transformation.

While the new packaging makes an immediate visual statement, the evolution extends beyond aesthetics. Redemption’s refreshed portfolio includes its signature Rye, High Rye Bourbon, and Straight Bourbon expressions, with the bourbon now bottled at 92 proof to deliver a bolder, more balanced profile.

Ok so now that we know why and how the bourbon has changed, let’s see how it tastes.

Redemption Bourbon

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided by the producer at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $29.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $2.00

Details: Distilled in Indiana. 46% ABV. 3 years old. Mash bill: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley. Batch #1.

Nose: Nutmeg, vanilla, mint, a touch of red fruit, and a little oak.

Mouth: Almond, vanilla, mint, and just a touch of oak and baking spice.

Finish: Medium in both warmth and length. Lingering notes of cinnamon, mint, and fruit.

Thoughts: This, while young, is a perfectly fine bourbon. It’s got a nice spice, along with some mint and fruit notes that I’m enjoying. I’d drink this one neat or in a cocktail, personally. It doesn’t really handle dilution well in my experience, but if you’re making a cocktail that’s built in the glass with minimal dilution—like an Old Fashioned—it performs well. For what it is, I like it.

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Revisited: Woodinville Straight Bourbon

I’d like to thank Woodinville Whiskey for sending this review sample with no strings attached.

It has been thirteen hundred, thirty-nine days since I last look a look at Woodinville Whiskey. It was the first time that I’d had one of their whiskeys, and it certainly wasn’t the last. Since that time, we’ve looked at a number of their products and liked most of them quite a bit. However, I hadn’t picked up the original bourbon again for a while. So I was very excited when they sent me this bottle in order to promote their recent bottle redesign and new 6-year age statement. God, I love age statements showing up. And it really is a lovely bottle. And since that new bottle was the entire reason I got to take another look at it, I should probably let them tell you a little about it.

Woodinville's updated bottle pays homage to the traditional shape that has become synonymous with Woodinville but has been refined to reflect the ultra-premium liquid they produce. The bottle features two different textures of glass, the clear and refined upper part representing the purity and terroir of Woodinville where the whiskey is distilled, and the rugged lower half representing the dramatic climates of Quincy where the whiskey is matured. All four flagship whiskeys feature the fresh look and will also feature an updated 6 year age statement on the bottle. The whiskeys are: Woodinville Straight Bourbon Aged 6 Years (90 proof $39.99 MSRP), Woodinville Straight 100% Rye Aged 6 Years (90 proof $39.99 MSRP) Woodinville Port Finish Bourbon (90 proof $44.99 MSRP), and Woodinville Applewood Finish Bourbon (90 proof $44.99 MSRP).

So now that I’ve let them have their say, let’s see what I had to say about this bourbon the last time. I gave it a “Like” rating and said: “This is pretty darn tasty. If you like hot honey, this should be one to pick up. I look forward to trying a few more from their product line.” Now let’s see how a current bottle tastes, shall we?

Woodinville Straight Bourbon, Aged 6 Years

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent to me at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $39.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $2.67

Details: 6 years old. 45% ABV.

Nose: Hay, cherry, vanilla, oak.

Mouth: Cinnamon, honey, vanilla, oak, and almond.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Notes of cinnamon, honey, and almond.

Thoughts: This is still really tasty. It has a lovely, viscous mouthfeel, which just adds to the honey notes. The almond/cherry notes are nice throughout. There is good warmth. And as mentioned above, it now comes in a bottle that is pretty enough that I might throw some solar lights in it and put it out on the deck for decoration. This remains a Like. It’s quite tasty.

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13th Annual BourbonGuy.com Brackets: The Championships

Welcome back, folks! We are now at the end of the 2026 contest. Eight whiskeys entered the arena. Four have fallen by the wayside. There have been some delicious treats, with not a single stinker in the bunch. Let’s see how it all ends and if we’ve learned anything along the way. First, we have the Round Two matchups.

Division 2: Crooked Meteor (Maker’s 46) vs. Wobbly Parachute (Benchmark Single Barrel)

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: On the mouth Wobbly Parachute is giving me a little more cherry and baking spice. Crooked Meteor also gives some fruit and baking spice, but tosses a little bubblegum in there too. Crooked Meteor has a softer mouthfeel, being almost velvety by comparison. Wobbly Parachute is sweeter on the nose showing more toffee-This is so close that I'm going to hazard a guess that the winner here goes on to take the whole thing. I like Crooked Meteor's nose better. Wobbly Parachute has a nicer finish. At the end of the day though the mouthfeel of Crooked Meteor gives this just the slightest edge.

Winner: Crooked Meteor (Maker’s 46) moves on to the Championship Round on the strength of the wonderful, softer mouthfeel.

Division 1: Gilded Thunder (Redemption) vs. Marble Iguana (1792)

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: Gilded Thunder has a nicer nose. In a head-to-head comparison there is something a little bitter on Marble Iguana's nose that Gilded Thunder doesn't have. Marble Iguana has a nicer finish. There is more oak, more warmth and even a hint of smoke on it. Gilded Thunder is more gentle and has less complexity to it. The mouth is where this will be decided though. Unfortunately both of the mouth's are fairly gentle and unassuming. All things considered Marble Iguana has a bit more complexity on the mouth and since both are tasty, that will be enough to take the contest.

Winner: Marble Iguana (1792) moves on to the Championship Round on the basis the added complexity of the palate.

Championship Round: Crooked Meteor (Maker’s 46) vs. Marble Iguana (1792)

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: The noses of these two are fairly similar with Marble Iguana being a little more "perfumy" than Crooked Meteor. Crooked Meteor has a nicer finish showing more baking spices. Crooked Meteor is sweet, fruity, floral, and spicy on the mouth. Marble Iguana is showing more mint, oak, and baking spice. This is really hard. Both of these are delicious bourbons.

Winner: Crooked Meteor (Maker’s 46)

Congrats to Maker’s 46, the 2026 BourbonGuy.com Bracket Champion!

So, what did I learn about each of these?

Well, starting with the winner? It was no surprise to me that Maker’s 46 took the contest. My wife and I did a draft before hand to see who would win. She went first, I won’t tell her pick to win yet, but mine was Maker’s 46. It was the first one I drafted for my “team.” Even though wheated bourbons are known for being softer (and as such don’t always fair well in the head to head format of a bracket), to me, it had the best shot because it has a full and rich flavor and enough spice to stand up the bourbons made with rye as a flavoring grain, while maintaining the soft mouthfeel that wheated bourbons are known for.

Moving over to the other finalist, 1792 was my wife’s first draft pick to win it all. And it nearly did. We had a very difficult time picking the winner this year. It came down to mouthfeel and that’s where 1792 fell behind. Both are delicious bourbons and I’d be happy to have either of them on my shelf (and lucky me, I have both).

I’m going to talk about Early Times Bottled-in-Bond and Redemption together here. Sometimes you end up with a matchup that you just kinda know isn’t going to matter in the final results. And that was this one. While I liked both of them, I knew going in that the last time I’d had Early Times Bottled in Bond, I wasn’t impressed. I felt that it had gone downhill from previous times I’d purchased it. And honestly with Redemption, at only 88 proof and two years old, I didn’t expect that it would even make it out of the first round. As I mentioned in the competition post that featured them, these are both brands in transition though. One to a new owner, and the other to a new proof level. So whatever we learned here won’t make much difference to the future.

Let’s finish off Division 1 by talking about Yellowstone Select. This was my number two draft pick. I honestly thought it might have a chance to at least leave the first round, but I chose it before the seeding matchups were finalized so I had no idea who it would be going against. In this case, it was a good bourbon going up against a great one.

Moving over to Division 2, we start with Benchmark Single Barrel and Four Roses Small Batch. This was one that I really didn’t know what to think. And in the end, Benchmark beat Four Roses Small Batch, the Four Roses expression that used to be my favorite of their core lineup. In the end, it was the proof that held Four Roses back since both are delightful bourbons.

And finally we get to Woodford Reserve. This was a dark horse pick for me, knowing that it would depend on the seeding matchups to see if it would make it to the second round. Like all of the bourbons in the competition, it is delicious (I love it when that happens in a bracket). It just didn’t have the complexity to top the eventual winner.

Now that we are done, it’s time to turn the page to the future. Next week, we will start to look at the samples that have been stacking up while the contest was going on. As much fun as this was, it’s fun to try new bourbons too.

Once again, congrats to Maker’s 46 on their 2026 Championship!

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

13th Annual BourbonGuy.com Brackets: Round 1d: Redemption Bourbon vs Early Times Bottled-in-Bond

Hello again my friends! We are back with the final of our Round 1 Competitions. These were tasted in an order only known to my wife as another bit of obfuscation to hide what was being tasted. So Round 1 of the 2026 BourbonGuy.com Brackets continues with Division 1’s Number 1 seed, Early Times Bottled-in-Bond taking on Number 4 seed, Redemption. This is an interesting competition as it featured the highest proof pour versus the lowest proof as well as the two least expensive pours in the competition. Fun fact, each of these pours seem to be brands in transition as we will detail below.

This bottle of Redemption is a two year old sourced bourbon from Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, producers of Bib & Tucker, Masterson’s Rye, Gray Whale Gin, and Josh Cellars wine. Redemption is sourced from MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. We are featuring a slightly older bottling as it looks as if the brand may have updated their bottle and possibly reformulated their bourbon since this bottle was produced. At least according to their instagram posts. I got this one at Total Wine in Burnsville, MN for $21.99 for a 750 mL bottle or $1.47 per pour.

Their opponent is Early Times Bottled-inBond, long a product of the Brown Forman Company of Louisville, KY, the brand is now owned by Sazerac. This particular bottle is still using Brown Forman stocks but was blended at Sazerac’s Barton 1792 plant. I got this one at Viking Liquor Barrel in Prior Lake, MN for $23.99 for a 1 Liter bottle or $1.20 per pour.

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 recorded before we knew which bourbon was which. Needless to say, some of my conclusions were surprising to me. Tasting notes may be a little unusual since they were tasted side by side and will have influenced the perception of one another.

Gilded Thunder (Redemption)

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $1.47

Details: 44% ABV

Nose: Cherry, oak, brown sugar, and baking spice.

Mouth: Caramel, cinnamon, oak, stone fruit, and vanilla.

Finish: Medium or less in both length and warmth. Notes of cinnamon, oak, and vanilla.

Velvet Turnip (Early Times Bottled-in-Bond)

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $1.20

Details: 50% ABV

Nose: Caramel, cinnamon, oak, and vanilla.

Mouth: Oak, cinnamon, and vanilla.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth with notes of oak and cinnamon.

Thoughts:

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: Velvet Turnip is brash and oaky. Gilded Thunder is more nuanced. Gilded Thunder is sweeter. Velvet Turnip is spicier. Both are very tasty, yet completely different. This is a tough one. I feel like this pairing comes down to your mood on a particular day. It's like deciding between pizza or burgers. Both have their place, it just depends on the mood. Today I'm feeling like mellow, and nuanced. Gilded Thunder wins.

Post-Reveal Thoughts: I would love to say that I am surprised by the result here. And in some ways I am. I mean, Early Times, in this bottle, is a bit of a collaboration between two of the best bourbon makers on the planet in Brown Forman and Sazerac. Of course, the main reason that I’m not surprised is simply the fact that MGP also makes amazing whiskey. Full stop. Age be damned, I’ve had some lovely two year old MGP in the past and I have no doubt that I will again. I am surprised that proof didn’t win out in this instance. It very often does in these competitions, which is why we use it as the first qualifier for seeding. Of course that also means, we just had our first upset of the competition. Which is always fun.

Winner: Redemption is advancing to round 2.

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

13th Annual BourbonGuy.com Brackets: Round 1c: Maker’s 46 vs Woodford Reserve

Good afternoon friends! We are back yet again with the third of our Round 1 Competitions. These were tasted in an order only known to my wife as another bit of obfuscation to hide what was being tasted. So Round 1 of the 2026 BourbonGuy.com Brackets continues with Division 2’s Number 3 seed, Woodford Reserve taking on Number 2 seed, Maker’s 46.

Maker’s 46 was the second wide-release, permanent product in the history of Maker’s Mark. The first being…Maker’s Mark. It came after much experimentation under the direction Bill Samuels Jr., son of founder Bill Samuels Sr. The “46” is said to be the winning trial number in the original experiments. Maker’s 46 takes the original wheated Maker’s Mark and “finishes” with the addition of French Oak staves toward the end of the aging process for a sweeter and spicier product. Maker’s 46 is produced at the Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto, KY. This bottle was purchased at Viking Liquor Barrel in Prior Lake, MN for $29.97 for a 750 mL bottle or $2.00 per pour.

Their opponent is Woodford Reserve, a product of the Brown Forman Company of Louisville, KY, partially produced at their aptly named showpiece Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KY. That distillery always felt like one you should dress up for. Fancy place. This bottle was purchased at Total Wine in Burnsville, MN for $29.99 for a 750 mL bottle or $2.00 per pour.

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 recorded before we knew which bourbon was which. Needless to say, some of my conclusions were surprising to me. Tasting notes may be a little unusual since they were tasted side by side and will have influenced the perception of one another.

Crooked Meteor (Maker’s 46)

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $2.00

Details: 47% ABV

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, nutmeg, and a hint of cherry.

Mouth: Spicy and sweet. Nutmeg, cherry, cocoa, vanilla, black tea, and oak.

Finish: Medium in warmth and length. Notes of sweet cherry, vanilla, cocoa, and nutmeg.

Jittery Compass (Woodford Reserve)

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $2.00

Details: 45.2% ABV

Nose: Banana, cherry, vanilla, cinnamon, and a touch of caramel.

Mouth: Cherry, caramel, vanilla, nutmeg, and ginger

Finish: Medium in both length and warmth. Notes of vanilla, ginger, caramel, and nutmeg.

Thoughts:

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: This is a tough one! They are both really good. Crooked Meteor is spicy and sweet. Jittery Compass has nice fruit notes and also has tasty baking spices. Crooked Meteor  has a more complex mouth and that's carrying it today.

Post-Reveal Thoughts: I love tastings where I need to have both tasting ounces almost gone before I am forced to make a decision. That usually means that they are both good and I am enjoying the tasting. And this one was one of those. Both were good and I was starting to think I was going to need to steal some of my wife’s in order to find a winner. It was that close. But in the end, the more complex Maker’s 46 won out by just a touch.

Winner: Maker’s 46 is advancing to round 2.

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

13th Annual BourbonGuy.com Brackets: Round 1b: 1792 vs. Yellowstone Select

And we’re back with the second of our Round 1 Competitions. These were tasted in an order only known to my wife as another bit of obfuscation to hide what was being tasted. So Round 1 of the 2026 BourbonGuy.com Brackets continues with Division 1’s Number 3 seed, Yellowstone Select taking on Number 2 seed, 1792 Bourbon.

Yellowstone Select is the flagship product of the Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, KY. This is the first time that a Yellowstone release has been in the contest. Prior to the brand, coming home to Limestone Branch, it certainly would have qualified. But then it got better and was priced out of range. And now because inflation is weird, it fits again. This bottle was purchased at Total Wine in Burnsville, MN for $29.99 for a 750 mL bottle or $2.00 per pour.

Their opponent is a bourbon that I have consumed more than my fair share of as we used to get a lot of barrel pick versions of it down at my local corner liquor store. 1792 Bourbon is produced by Sazerac at their aptly named Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, KY. This bottle was purchased at Total Wine in Burnsville, MN for $25.99 for a 750 mL bottle or $1.73 per pour.

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 recorded before we knew which bourbon was which. Needless to say, some of my conclusions were surprising to me. Tasting notes may be a little unusual since they were tasted side by side and will have influenced the perception of one another.

Marble Iguana (1792)

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $1.73

Details: 46.85% ABV

Nose: Dusty oak, vanilla, baking spice, and caramel.

Mouth: Oak, allspice, citrus zest, cinnamon

Finish: Warm and on the shorter side of medium length. Notes of oak, cocoa nibs, and stewed apple.

Feral Teacup (Yellowstone Select)

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $2.00

Details: 46.5% ABV

Nose: Almond, vanilla, oak, and a hint of baking spice.

Mouth: Bitter almond, oak, dried grain, and baking spice.

Finish: Slightly medicinal and of medium length. Notes of mint, dried grains, and almond.

Thoughts:

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: Feral Teacup is showing a lot more grain in the mouth. Marble Iguana is spicier and shows more fruit. Both are decent pours, but I’m getting an odd finish on Feral Teacup, probably due to the influence of tasting head-to-head in a single sitting, but that’s the name of this game. I like Marble Iguana better due to the nicer experience on the finish and the abundance of dried grain notes on Feral Teacup.

Post-Reveal Thoughts: As always, it is fun to see how the bourbons compare in a head-to-head setting. I was a bit shocked that I was as hard on Yellowstone Select as I was, considering how much I like its limited edition brethren. Though as I say over and over, this is not intended to be a normal tasting. I’ve enjoyed many a Yellowstone pour over the years without thinking of dried grains or medicinal finishes and I expect I will again in the future. However, I do really enjoy 1792, so the outcome itself doesn’t really surprise me.

Winner: 1792 is advancing to round 2.

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

13th Annual BourbonGuy.com Brackets: Round 1a: Benchmark Single Barrel vs. Four Roses Small Batch

Here we go! Let’s get down to the competitions. I hope that you guys are as excited about this as I am. These were tasted in an order only known to my wife as another bit of obfuscation to hide what was being tasted. So Round 1 of the 2026 BourbonGuy.com Brackets starts with Division 2’s Number 4 seed, Four Roses Small Batch taking on Number 1 seed, Benchmark Single Barrel Bourbon.

Four Roses Small Batch, produced by the Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg, KY, used to be this Four Roses Fanboy’s favorite pour from them. I really enjoyed the mellow, nuanced flavor. Of course, as I grew accustomed to higher proof bourbons, it soon felt a little…weak. I still enjoy a pour of it now and then, because it is delicious, but I don’t buy it nearly as often as I used to and that makes me just a little sad. This bottle was purchased at Total Wine in Burnsville, MN for $26.99 for a 750 mL bottle or $1.80 per pour.

Their opponent is a bourbon that I don’t think I’ve ever had before, though it’s Bottled-in-Bond cousin was in the competition last year. Benchmark Single Barrel was produced by Buffalo Trace at their Frankfort, KY distillery. This bottle was purchased at Viking Liquor Barrel in Prior Lake, MN, for $23.99 for a 750 mL bottle or $1.60 per pour.

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 recorded before we knew which bourbon was which. Needless to say, some of my conclusions were surprising to me. Tasting notes may be a little unusual since they were tasted side by side and will have influenced the perception of one another.

Wobbly Parachute (Benchmark Single Barrel)

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $1.60

Details: 47.5% ABV

Nose: Strong toffee note initially followed by cinnamon candies and brown sugar after a bit.

Mouth: Cinnamon, toffee, vanilla, and oak

Finish: Warm and on the longer side of medium length. Lingering notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and oak.

Drowsy Lantern (Four Roses Small Batch)

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $1.80

Details: 45% ABV

Nose: Cinnamon, mint, and caramel rolls.

Mouth: Cinnamon gum, mint, smoke, and caramel.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Notes of oak, baking spice, and mint.

Thoughts:

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: Wobbly Parachute is much sweeter. Drowsy Lantern feels dry by comparison. Wobbly Parachute has a thicker mouthfeel. Drowsy Lantern seems a little more complex and nuanced. Wobbly Parachute is a more pleasant pour when directly comparing them head to head.

Post-Reveal Thoughts: I’m a bit surprised by this one. Not because of an upset or anything—I mean, usually, proof beats price in these matchups, and that happened again. It’s just that I tend to personally like Four Roses’s bourbon more than Buffalo Trace’s. But hey, that’s why these are done blind, right?

Winner: Benchmark Single Barrel is advancing to round 2.

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