The opening round of the 2025 Whiskey of the Year Tournament is officially in the books, and the results are staggering. This wasn’t just a tasting; it was a battle of the best. With an incredible 93.5 average winner score, the margin for error was non-existent. Even the bottles sent home averaged a 92.1, proving that every contender in this year’s field is a “must-try” for any serious enthusiast.

From massive wildcard upsets to #1 seeds holding their ground by a single point, the Elite Eight is now set. Who moved on? Who fell short? Explore the full scorecard below and track the live bracket as we head into the Quarterfinals.

The Sweet Sixteen Scorecard

Key Takeaways from the Round

• The High-Score Hero: Patriotic Meri-COB (Battle 8) took the highest score of the entire opening round with a massive 95, narrowly edging out a phenomenal Neeley 4-Grain.
• The Power of the #1 Seed: All four of our #1 seeds (Old Louisville, Bardstown, Wild Turkey, and McBrayer) successfully defended their brackets, though several battles came down to a single point.
• The “Wheat” Surprise: Star Hill Farms Wheat Whisky remains the only non-bourbon in the field, proving its complexity can stand up to the biggest names in Kentucky Bourbon.

What’s Next?

The tournament shifts gears tomorrow as we begin the Elite Eight. The matchups only get tougher from here as we fight for a spot in the Final Four.

📺 Catch up on all the happenings on the Tournament Tracker Page

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