2026 Whiskey of the Month

Ultimate Blind Bourbon Tasting: July Whiskey of the Month! 

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Welcome to the JULY BLIND WHISKEY OF THE MONTH SHOWDOWN! 🥃🔥

In this episode, we put five incredible Straight Bourbon Whiskeys to the ultimate blind taste test. From rare cask finishes and double-Italian wine cask experiments to heirloom blue corn mash bills and heavy-hitting barrel proofs, this lineup is packed with power and flavor!

Can an underdog craft bourbon take down legacy titans, or will a legendary barrel proof beast sweep the rankings? Watch to find out—no bias, no label influence, just pure palate evaluation!

OUR FIVE CONTENDERS (in alphabetical order): 

  • 🪵 Barrel Bourbon Cigar Blend – The Multi-Cask Powerhouse: A heavy-hitting blend boasting up to 18-year aged whiskey finished across four distinct casks, including Madeira, Armagnac, Rum, and Hungarian Oak.
  • 🍷 Blood Oath Pact 12 – The Italian Wine Experiment: A limited release blending 7, 9, and 12-year bourbons finished in both fruit-forward Montepulciano and savory Sangiovese wine casks.
  • 💥 Booker’s 2026-02 Milkshake Batch – The High-Proof Beam Beast: A high-octane Kentucky Straight Bourbon sitting at 124.4 proof, aged over 7.5 years and packed with iconic Beam character.
  • 🌽 Glenns Creek Patriotic Meri-COB – The Heirloom Triple-Corn Craft: A unique Kentucky bourbon crafted from a rare 100% heirloom corn mash bill featuring Bloody Butcher Red, Hickory King White, and Hoppi Blue.
  • ⛰️ Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof – The High-Altitude High-Proofer: A 132-proof Colorado-aged monster distilled with a proprietary 4-grain heirloom blue corn mash bill.

👇 Which whiskey do you think took 1st place? Drop your guess in the comments BEFORE the final reveal!

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📊 SEE THE LIVE LEADERBOARD: Want to see where this bottle ranks against the rest of the field? Check out our real-time leaderboard here: 👉 https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/02/27/the-live-leaderboard-road-to-the-sweet-sixteen/

🥃 OUR SCORING PROCESS: We’ve revamped our scoring to be more transparent than ever. No more “Redundancy”—just pure, data-driven blind competitions. Read the full breakdown of our new rubric and the “Sweet Sixteen” bracket process on our website: 👉 https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/02/27/decoding-the-pour-the-new-your-bourbon-journey-scoring-woty-process/ 


🎓 Want to earn a FREE Whiskey Certificate? Start your bourbon education journey with Whiskey University today! Take your first steps here: https://www.whiskeyuniv.com/first-steps

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🥃 The July Lineup Competitors (Alphabetical Order):

Barrell Bourbon Cigar Blend

  • Classification: Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Madeira, Armagnac, Rum & Hungarian Oak Casks
  • Distillery: Blended & Bottled by Barrell Craft Spirits (KY, IN, TN)
  • Age: 7.5 to 18 Years | Proof: 111.2 (55.6% ABV) | SRP: $84.99

Blood Oath Pact 12

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Double Italian Wine Cask Finish: Montepulciano & Sangiovese)
  • Distillery: Lux Row Distillers (Master Distiller John Rempe)
  • Age: Blend of 7, 9, and 12-Year Bourbons | Proof: 98.6 (49.3% ABV) | SRP: $129.99

Booker’s 2026-02 “Milkshake Batch”

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Jim Beam
  • Age: 7 Years, 6 Months, 12 Days | Proof: 124.4 (62.2% ABV) | SRP: $100.00

Glenns Creek “Patriotic ‘Meri-COB” (Heirloom Collection)

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Glenns Creek Distillery
  • Mash Bill: Triple Heirloom Corn (Bloody Butcher Red, Hickory King White & Hoppi Blue)
  • Age: 47+ Months | Proof: 106 (53% ABV) | SRP: $75.00

Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof

  • Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Distilled in IN; Barreled, Aged & Bottled by Smokeye Hill Spirits (Colorado Springs, CO)
  • Mash Bill: 4-Grain Heirloom Blue Corn Mash Bill
  • Age: 5 Years | Proof: 132 (66% ABV) | SRP: $89.99

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

#WhiskeyOfTheMonth #Bourbon #WhiskeyTasting #BlindTasting #BourbonReview #BloodOathPact12 #BookersBourbon #BarrellCraftSpirits #SmokeyeHill  #StraightBourbon #BarrelProof #CraftWhiskey #WhiskeyGram #BourbonCommunity 

Massive Blind Whiskey Contest! June Whiskey of the Month

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Welcome back to Your Bourbon Journey! In this video, Wayne and Rebecca are diving into a powerhouse lineup for our June Whiskey of the Month blind tasting! As we continue our high-stakes Road to the Sweet Sixteen, the competition is tighter than ever.

This month features an incredibly diverse flight jumping across three distinct whiskey classifications (Bourbon, Wheat, and American Single Malt) with a heavy emphasis on unique finishing methods—ranging from a honey barrel and sweet stout casks to complex sherry and toasted wood elements. With our leaderboard shifting every month based on total points earned, every single point counts. Will this month’s winner secure a permanent spot in the year-end playoffs?

The June Contenders (In Alphabetical Order):

  • Bernheim 20th Anniversary Edition | Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey (Heaven Hill)
  • Casey Jones Barrel Finished Series: Honey Bourbon (“Brown Beauty”) | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in a Honey Barrel (Casey Jones Distillery)
  • Little Book Chapter 10: All the Wiser | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Sherry and Toasted Bourbon Casks (Jim Beam)
  • New Riff Silver Grove Straight Bourbon Whiskey 2026 | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (New Riff Distilling)
  • VDC Brewer’s Coalition: 4 Hands Brewing Co. Madagascar Stout Cask | American Single Malt Whisky (Virginia Distillery Co.)

From sweet, confectionary aromas and rich dark caramel notes to toasted nuts, baking spices, and bold flavor explosions, this blind flight completely challenged our palates. Watch until the end to see our final score adjustments, the blind revelations, and how the leaderboard shuffles at the halfway point of the year!

Drop a comment below: Have you tried any of these expressions? What notes do you get from them?

If you love authentic, transparent whiskey reviews, hit that SUBSCRIBE button, drop a like, and always remember to drink responsibly. Cheers!

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 

🎓 Want to earn a FREE Whiskey Certificate? Start your bourbon education journey with Whiskey University today! Take your first steps here: https://www.whiskeyuniv.com/first-steps

📊 SEE THE LIVE LEADERBOARD: Want to see where these bottles rank against the rest of the field? Check out our real-time leaderboard here: 👉 https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/02/27/the-live-leaderboard-road-to-the-sweet-sixteen/

🥃 OUR NEW SCORING PROCESS: We’ve revamped our scoring to be more transparent than ever. Read the full breakdown of our new rubric and the “Sweet Sixteen” bracket process on our website: 👉 https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/02/27/decoding-the-pour-the-new-your-bourbon-journey-scoring-woty-process/

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

Original Reviews for Today’s Bottles:

🥃 Bernheim 20th Anniversary Edition:

🥃 Casey Jones Barrel Finished Series: Honey Bourbon:

🥃 Little Book Chapter 10: All the Wiser:

🥃 New Riff Silver Grove Straight Bourbon Whiskey:  

🥃 VDC Brewer’s Coalition: 4 Hands Brewing Co. Madagascar Stout Cask:

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. 

#Bourbon #Whiskey #BlindTasting #YourBourbonJourney #WhiskeyOfTheMonth #BourbonReview #CraftDistillery #LittleBook #NewRiff #CaseyJonesDistillery #VirginiaDistilleryCo #BernheimWheatWhiskey #AmericanSingleMalt #SweetSixteen #WhiskeyTasting

Ultimate May Whiskey Battle: Road to the Sweet 16!

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Welcome back to Your Bourbon Journey! It’s that time of the month again, and Wayne and Rebecca are diving headfirst into an absolute powerhouse lineup for our May 2026 Whiskey of the Month blind tasting! As we continue our high-stakes Road to the Sweet Sixteen, the competition is tighter than ever. With our current leaderboard running a massive scoring range of 91 to 99.5 and a Top 10 average sitting at an elite 94.95, every single point counts. Will this month’s winner have what it takes to secure a permanent spot in the year-end playoffs?

In this episode, we shake things up with a rapid “express tasting” to see the gorgeous legs and color consistency before diving deep into our traditional scoring system. Every bottle starts at a baseline of 80 points, with up to 5 points for the nose, 10 for the taste, 3 for the finish, and up to 2 elusive wild card points reserved for something truly outstanding.

We also announce some massive channel updates coming this December—including our upcoming hard-to-get distillery exclusive playoff, vintage whiskey of the year, and cocktail of the year!

Our May 2026 Contenders (In Alphabetical Order):

🥃 Cigar Blend “First Cut” | American Single Malt Whiskey (Virginia Distillery Co.) 
🥃 Fresh Bourbon Single Barrel | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Fresh Bourbon, LLC) 
🥃 Hard Truth 7-Year Wheated Bourbon | Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Hard Truth Distilling Co.) 
🥃 Jackson Purchase Full Proof (Special Festival Release) | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Jackson Purchase Distillery) 
🥃 Left Bank Single Cask (Release 5) | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Left Bank Distilled Spirits) 

From sweet honeysuckle aromas and rich butterscotch notes to deep barrel char and bold baking spices, this flight completely blindsided our palates. Watch until the very end to see the final score adjustments and find out which of these bottles completely stunned us, shook up the leaderboard, and forced the very first bottle elimination of the year!

Drop a comment below: Have you tried any of these expressions? Which bottle did you think would take the crown this month?

If you love authentic, transparent whiskey reviews, hit that SUBSCRIBE button and join us on the journey!

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 

🎓 Want to earn a FREE Whiskey Certificate? Start your bourbon education journey with Whiskey University today! Take your first steps here: https://www.whiskeyuniv.com/first-steps

📊 SEE THE LIVE LEADERBOARD: Want to see where these bottles rank against the rest of the field? Check out our real-time leaderboard here: 👉 https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/02/27/the-live-leaderboard-road-to-the-sweet-sixteen/

🥃 OUR NEW SCORING PROCESS: We’ve revamped our scoring to be more transparent than ever. Read the full breakdown of our new rubric and the “Sweet Sixteen” bracket process on our website: 👉 https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/02/27/decoding-the-pour-the-new-your-bourbon-journey-scoring-woty-process/

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

Original Reviews for Today’s Bottles:

🥃 Cigar Blend:

🥃 Fresh Bourbon, Jackson Purchase, and Left Bank:

🥃 Hard Truth:

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

#YourBourbonJourney #Bourbon #WhiskeyReview #BlindTasting #RoadToSweet16 #WhiskeyCollection #BourbonWhiskey #CraftWhiskey #WhiskeyTasting #HighProofBourbon #BourbonCommunity #SingleMaltWhiskey #WheatedBourbon #KentuckyBourbon #WhiskeyLife

The April Lineup: Which Whiskey Earned the Top Spot?

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Welcome back to Your Bourbon Journey! 🥃

It’s that time of the month again! With the “Road to the Sweet 16” in full swing, we have curated an absolute powerhouse lineup for our April Whiskey of the Month. This month, we went bold—tasting five unique expressions that span the entire spectrum of flavor and finish. From Finished Rye and Wheat whiskeys to high-proof American Light Whiskey and Kentucky Straight Bourbon, we are all over the map!

We put these contenders to the ultimate test in a blind tasting format to see which bottle has what it takes to advance toward our Whiskey of the Year title. The competition was fierce, the legs were luscious, and the results? Let’s just say we were genuinely stunned.

In this episode: We dive into five distinct expressions, evaluating them on the nose, palate, and finish. We break down the unique profiles, discuss the impact of finishing casks (Armagnac, Madeira, Port/Sherry), and score them live to see who reigns supreme this month.

Featured Candidates:

  • Dark Arts Cask Strength Bourbon (Armagnac Finish)
  • Dark Arts Blunt Blend (Batch 3)
  • Knob Creek Blender’s Edition 1
  • Penelope American Light Whiskey (18 Year)
  • Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series 2

Stay tuned until the end for the Big Reveal! We break down the math, discuss the “Sweet Sixteen” leaderboard implications, and find out which of these bottles are destined for our Whiskey of the Year tournament.

If you enjoy our blind tasting series, hit that SUBSCRIBE button and join us on our journey! 🔔 Don’t forget to like and comment: Which of these bottles would be your top pick? Are you a fan of the finishes in this lineup?

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 


📊 SEE THE LIVE LEADERBOARD: Want to see where these bottles rank against the rest of the field? Check out our real-time leaderboard here: 👉 https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/02/27/the-live-leaderboard-road-to-the-sweet-sixteen/

🥃 OUR NEW SCORING PROCESS: We’ve revamped our scoring to be more transparent than ever. Read the full breakdown of our new rubric and the “Sweet Sixteen” bracket process on our website: 👉 https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/02/27/decoding-the-pour-the-new-your-bourbon-journey-scoring-woty-process/

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

Dark Arts Cask Strength Bourbon (Armagnac Finish)

  • Classification:  Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distilled: Sourced from MGP in Indiana  
  • Produced by: Dark Arts Whiskey House LLC
  • Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
  • Age: 10 Years
  • Proof: 113 (Cask Strength)
  • Released: Early 2026
  • Other: Finished in Armagnac Cask; Batch AT2; Bottle 132
  • Original Review:

Dark Arts Blunt Blend (Batch 3) Dank Arts

  • Classification: Rye Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Dark Arts Whiskey House
  • Distillery: Distilled in Indiana; Blended/Bottled in Sparta, KY
  • Mash Bill: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
  • Age: 8 Years
  • Finished: Madeira Cask and Armagnac Cask
  • Proof: 113.8
  • Released: Late March 2026
  • Other: Bottle 3370
  • Original Review:

Knob Creek Blender’s Edition 1

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Beam Suntory
  • Distillery: James B. Beam Distilling Co. (Clermont/Beam, KY)
  • Mash Bill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
  • Age: 10 years
  • Proof: 106
  • MSRP: $44.99
  • Released: March 2026
  • Original Review:

Penelope American Light Whiskey 18 Year Limited Release

  • Classification:  American Light Whiskey
  • Company: Penelope Bourbon (A subsidiary of MGP/Luxco)
  • Distillery: MGP (Lawrenceburg, IN)
  • Mash Bill: 99% Corn, 1% Malted Barley
  • Age: 18 Years
  • Proof: 140.2
  • Released: 2026
  • Original Review:

Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series 2

  • Classification: Straight Wheat Whiskey
  • Distillery: Ross & Squibb Distillery
  • Mash Bill: 95% Wheat, 5% Malted Barley (LKSV formula/rare)
  • Age: Distilled in 2017 – Approximately 9 years
  • Quattro-Finish: (separately) Tawny Port, White Port, Oloroso Sherry and Ruby Port Casks (then blended)
  • Proof: 113
  • Released:  March 2026
  • Original Review:

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us.We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

#YourBourbonJourney #Bourbon #WhiskeyReview #BlindTasting #RoadToSweet16 #WhiskeyCollection #BourbonWhiskey #RyeWhiskey #CraftWhiskey #WhiskeyTasting #WhiskeyLife #BourbonCommunity #HighProofBourbon #DarkArtsWhiskey #PenelopeBourbon

Four Bourbon Contenders: The Road to the Sweet 16 Continues! 

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Can a $54 Craft Bourbon Take Down a $200 Kentucky Legend? 🥃 Blind Bourbon Tasting

We are back with another high-stakes Blind Whiskey of the Month tasting! This month, we’re putting four incredible contenders to the ultimate test using our brand-new, data-driven scoring rubric. From a New York-distilled “transplant” bottled at Glenn’s Creek to the highly anticipated 2026 Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked, this lineup is absolutely stacked.

In this episode, Wayne and Rebecca dive deep into the nose, palate, and finish of four mysterious samples. You won’t believe the scores—we actually witnessed a “Mr. Perfect” moment with one of the highest ratings we’ve ever handed out! Does the $200 price tag of the Woodford Double Double Oaked guarantee a win, or will a craft underdog like 5094 Transplant, General Thomas, or Robert’s Reserve pull off the upset?

THE CONTENDERS:

  • 5094 Transplant Bourbon (5094 Distilling/Glenns Creek) – 94.8 Proof
  • General Thomas Bourbon Single Barrel (General Thomas Spirits) – 110 Proof
  • Robert’s Reserve Bourbon (Pauley Hollow Distillery) – 92 Proof
  • Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked (2026) – 90.4 Proof

Stay tuned until the end for the Big Reveal! We break down the math, discuss the “Sweet Sixteen” leaderboard implications, and find out which of these bottles are destined for our Whiskey of the Year tournament.

🥃 OUR NEW SCORING PROCESS: We’ve revamped our scoring to be more transparent than ever. Read the full breakdown of our new rubric and the “Sweet Sixteen” bracket process on our website: 👉 https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/02/27/decoding-the-pour-the-new-your-bourbon-journey-scoring-woty-process/

📊 SEE THE LIVE LEADERBOARD: Want to see where these bottles rank against the rest of the field? Check out our real-time leaderboard here: 👉 https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/02/27/the-live-leaderboard-road-to-the-sweet-sixteen/

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 

🥃 Become a Patron & Get Exclusive Content

🔔 YouTube

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👍 Facebook

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

5094 Transplant Bourbon

  • Classification: Bourbon Whiskey
  • By: 5094 Distilling
  • Distilled in New York
  • Bottled by Glenns Creek Distilling
  • Mash Bill: Four Grain
  • Age: 4 Years (then 3 years in a toasted barrel)
  • Proof: 94.8
  • MSRP: $54

Original Review:

General Thomas Bourbon Single Barrel

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • By: General Thomas Spirits LLC
  • Sourced from a Northern Kentucky distillery
  • Bottled in Newport, KY
  • Mash Bill: Undisclosed
  • Age: 5 Years
  • Proof: 110
  • MSRP: $70

Original Review:

Robert’s Reserve Bourbon

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Distillery: Pauley Hollow Distillery
  • Mash Bill: Four-grain (Corn, Rye, Wheat, and Malted Barley)
  • Barreling: Uses a combination of 10-gallon and 30-gallon barrels with a #3 char.
  • Age: 4 Years
  • Proof: 92
  • MSRP: $50

Original Review:

Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked Bourbon

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Brown-Forman
  • Distillery: Woodford Reserve Distillery
  • Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
  • Age: NAS: 5-7 Years in first barrel, then up to 2 years in second barrel
  • Proof: 90.4
  • MSRP: $199.99 (700 ml)

Original Review:

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us.We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

#Bourbon #Whiskey #BlindTasting #YourBourbonJourney #WoodfordReserve #BourbonReview #WhiskeyGram #KentuckyBourbon #BourbonHunt #WhiskeyTasting #CraftWhiskey #BourbonLife #Distillery #WhiskeyLovers #BourbonCommunity

The Best of February: Which Bottle Takes the Crown?

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The Hunt for the 2026 Whiskey of the Year Begins! 🥃

Welcome to the official February Whiskey of the Month blind tasting! This isn’t just a review; it’s the debut of our brand-new, standardized 100-point scoring rubric. Wayne and Rebecca are putting four heavy-hitters from BourbonCon to the ultimate test to see which bottles have the “viscosity, complexity, and soul” to land a spot on our live leaderboard.

In this episode, we tackle a diverse lineup featuring a double-barreled powerhouse, a full-proof Kentucky classic, a four-grain artisan blend, and—for the first time in YBJ history—a finished Kentucky Rye!

🥃OUR SCORING PROCESS:

We’ve revamped our scoring to be more transparent than ever. No more “Redundancy”—just pure, data-driven blind competitions. Read the full breakdown of our new rubric and the “Sweet Sixteen” bracket process on our website: 👉 https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/02/27/decoding-the-pour-the-new-your-bourbon-journey-scoring-woty-process/ 

THE CONTENDERS:

  • Burnt Tavern: 7-Year, 105 Proof, Double-Barreled Bourbon.
  • Jackson Purchase Batch No. 1: 4-Year, 117.8 Proof, Full Proof Bourbon.
  • Peter E. Hart Rye: 100 Proof, Finished in Smoked Bourbon Barrels.
  • Trackside Bourbon: 5-Year, 107 Proof, Unique Four-Grain Mash Bill.

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 

🥃 Become a Patron & Get Exclusive Content

🔔 YouTube

📸 Instagram 

👍 Facebook

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

✴️ Burnt Tavern

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: William Berkele Distillery (Lead Founder: Royce Blevins)
  • Distilled By: Undisclosed Kentucky Distillery (Sourced)
  • Mash Bill: Undisclosed (thought to be high-rye style)
  • Age: 7 Years
  • Proof: 105
  • Other: Double-barreled and finished in slow-toasted American oak.

Original Review:

✴️ Jackson Purchase Batch No. 1 Full Proof

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company & Distillery: Jackson Purchase Distillery (Hickman, KY)
  • Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 20% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
  • Age: 4
  • Proof: 117.8

Original Review:

✴️ Peter E Hart Rye Whiskey

  • Classification: Kentucky Rye Whiskey
  • Company: Peter E Hart
  • Distillery: Sourced from Wilderness Trail Distillery (Danville, KY)
  • Mash Bill: 56% Rye, 33% Corn, 11% Malted Barley
  • Age: 3 Years (ave blend is reported closer to 4.5 years)
  • Proof: 100
  • Other: Finished in Smoked Bourbon Barrels

Original Review:

✴️ Trackside Bourbon (Founder Release High Proof)

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: Trackside Distilling Company (Co-Founders Jade Peterson and Jeremy Dever)
  • Distillery: Sourced and blended barrels from Kentucky Artisan Distillery (Crestwood, KY)
  • Mash Bill: A unique four-grain mash bill: Yellow Corn, Rye, Distiller’s Malt, and Chocolate Malted Barley.
  • Age: 5
  • Proof: 107

Original Review:

📊SEE THE LIVE LEADERBOARD: Want to see where this bottle ranks against the rest of the field? Check out our real-time leaderboard here: 👉 https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/02/27/the-live-leaderboard-road-to-the-sweet-sixteen/

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us.We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

#YourBourbonJourney #WhiskeyOfTheMonth #BlindTasting #BourbonReview #SweetSixteen #WhiskeyScoring #JacksonPurchase #BurntTavern #TracksideBourbon #PeterEHart #KentuckyBourbon #RyeWhiskey #BourbonCon #WhiskeyCommunity #WOTY2026

Decoding the Pour: The New “Your Bourbon Journey” Scoring & WOTY Process

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At Your Bourbon Journey, our mission has always been to embrace the craft and find the absolute best whiskey sitting on the shelf. As our library has grown, so has our need for a more rigorous, transparent, and “science-backed” way to evaluate what makes a bottle truly elite.

To kick off our next chapter, we are introducing a refined scoring system and a streamlined path to the Whiskey of the Year (WOTY). Here is how we are finding the “Sweet Sixteen” and beyond.

The Road to the Sweet Sixteen

We’ve listened to your feedback and looked at our own data. To ensure only the “best of the best” make it to the winner’s circle, we’ve made a few key changes to our annual competition:

  • Monthly Blind Competitions: Our core remains the same. We will continue to name a Whiskey of the Month (WOTM) through rigorous blind tastings.
  • Farewell to the “Quarterly”: We have eliminated the “Whiskey of the Quarter” format. We found it was a bit redundant and didn’t always provide the most accurate seeding for the year-end finals.
  • The Power of the Rubric: Every bottle we review now faces our new 100-Point Rubric. This ensures consistency whether we are tasting a budget-friendly rye or a limited-edition bourbon.
  • Data-Driven Seeding: Your favorites don’t just move on because they won a single month; their numerical scores determine their rank and seeding for the WOTY blind.
  • The Play-In: In the event of a tie for those final spots in the Sweet Sixteen, we will conduct a Blind Play-In to settle the score on the palate.

The Live Leaderboard

Transparency is key. You can now visit our Live Leaderboard page right here on the website to see how current contenders are stacking up in real-time.

Look for Video Updates: Keep an eye out for dedicated leaderboard deep-dives at the 4-month and 8-month marks to see which bottles are currently pacing to make the finals!

Inside the Rubric: How We Score

We start with a baseline of 80 points for any whiskey that is “eligible” for our journey. The final 20 points—the difference between “good” and “legendary”—are determined by four critical categories:

I. The Nose (5 Points)

Focus on aromatic complexity and ethanol integration.

  • Good (1–2 pts): Pleasant and clear (vanilla, oak) but simple.
  • Great (3–4 pts): Multi-layered with hidden ethanol and distinct secondary notes like fruit or spice.
  • Outstanding (5 pts): A “room-filler.” Exceptional complexity that evolves in the glass.

II. The Taste (10 Points)

The engine of the score. Focus on mouthfeel, transition, and flavor density.

  • Good (1–4 pts): Thin to medium mouthfeel; consistent but predictable.
  • Great (5–8 pts): Oily/creamy texture with a “story” on the palate (sweet start, spicy mid).
  • Outstanding (9–10 pts): Explosive and viscous. Challenging depth with zero “dead spots.”

III. The Finish (3 Points)

Focus on duration and the “exit.”

  • Good (1 pt): Short to medium; clean and simple.
  • Great (2 pt): Long and warming; brings back a specific note like cocoa or leather.
  • Outstanding (3 pts): “The Hug.” Lasts for minutes and evolves without harsh bitterness.

IV. The Wild Card (2 Points)

The “X-Factor” or subjective “wow” moment.

  • Good (0 pts): A solid pour, but not uniquely memorable.
  • Great (1 pt): A “best-in-class” representation of its specific style or mashbill.
  • Outstanding (2 pts): A “unicorn” experience; the kind of bottle you immediately buy a backup of.

Are you ready to see who takes the crown this year? Check the leaderboard often, and we’ll see you in the comments of the next blind!

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The Live Leaderboard: Road to the Sweet Sixteen

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This is the heartbeat of the Your Bourbon Journey season. As we move through our monthly blind competitions, every bottle’s performance is recorded here. The Top 16 highest-scoring whiskeys at the end of the season will advance to the Whiskey of the Year (WOTY) Blind Bracket.

Current Standings

Updated: 07/31/26

The WOTY Bracket Structure

Once the leaderboard is finalized, the Sweet Sixteen are seeded #1 through #16 based strictly on their rubric scores. From there, it is a single-elimination march to the finish. Every single round is conducted completely blind to ensure the liquid in the glass does the talking.

  • The Sweet Sixteen: Our top 16 seeded whiskeys face off in head-to-head (or group) blind flights.
  • The Elite Eight: The winners advance to a high-stakes blind showdown to determine the best of each region/bracket.
  • The Final Four: The four remaining heavyweights meet in a penultimate blind tasting.
  • The Championship: The final two bottles go nose-to-nose. Only one will be crowned the Your Bourbon Journey Whiskey of the Year.

Tie-Breakers & Seeding

Because we rely on a 100-point scale, ties are possible.

  • Seeding Ties: If two whiskeys have the same score, their seed is determined by their Taste score. If still tied, we look to the Nose, then Finish, then price.
  • The Play-In: If there is a tie for the #16 spot, we will conduct a Blind Play-In to see who earns the final seat at the table.

How the Scoring Works

Each bottle starts with a base of 80 points. We then apply our 20-point Rubric (Nose, Taste, Finish, and Wild Card) to reach the final score.

[Click here to read the full breakdown of our Scoring Rubric]

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