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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