So we finally tackled the Bourbon Blending Challenge 2021 episode and wow was it ever fun. There were 10 different entries to sample through and boy did we rise to the challenge. We had our great friend Ashley Barnes on hand to assist us in the judging of these fine blended bourbons and as always her talents shined. If you don’t know her, checkout our previous episodes #88 with her and her company https://www.thespiritsgroup.com/ . It was surprisingly close but in the end two blends stood tall against the rest and one name as you will see below is pretty cool with the rewording of a classic song from Kansas.

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 Here are the rules we had set down in episode #178.

  1. Must be a member of our private Facebook Group (The Bourbon Roadies)
  2. Must be between 95-105 proof.
  3. Bourbons only in the blend.
  4. At least two 2oz sample bottles
  5. 3 different bourbons must be in the blend.
  6. You must name your blend (place on the outside of envelope).
  7. You name and address(place inside the envelope).
  8. Must tell us the recipe (place inside the envelope).
  9. Must place the name of the blend on the bottles

So with the rules set  and the tasting complete the winner of The Bourbon Blending Challenge 2021 is Adam Boothby. Adam will receive a custom The Bourbon Road engraved barrel head. A Bourbon Bullshitter T-shirt, a The Bourbon Road T-shirt, a The Bourbon Road glen cairn, a The Bourbon Road hat along with samples of from both Jims blend (Old Hoot) and Big Chief’s Infinity bottle.

The Kings……..

Old Fitzgerald  13 Bottled in Bond  

Old Fitzgerald 8 Bottled in Bond 

Weller 107
Makers Cask

Makers FAE-01

Weller 12

Old 55 Bottled in Bond

Rebel Yell 100

Wilderness Trail Distillery 4 Year Wheat

Wilderness Trail Distillery Derby Pick

Wilderness Trail Distillery 6 Year Wheat

Wilderness Trail Distillery 100th Ferm

Blend Proof: 104.1

The Best Name winner Todd Ritter with his Dust in the Blend. He almost took both categories. It was seriously that close. Todd will receive a The Bourbon Road glen cairn and a The Bourbon Road hat along with samples of from both Jims blend (Old Hoot) and Big Chief’s Infinity bottle. Here was what Todd submitted to us.

Dust in the Blend

1/3 1983 Elijah Craig 12 year Bourbon 94 Proof

1/3 New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon 104.7 Proof

1/3 Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 110.3 Proof

Blend proof: 103

 

I Close my eyes, Only for a moment and the moments gone. All my Drams pass through my lips, a curiosity, Dust in The Blend, All I know is Dust in The Blend.

So congratulations to Adam and Todd. Adams blend won us over possibly with older bourbons and you guessed it wheat. Todd Went that extra mile with his name even adding a poem or verse. We will be changing the rules for 2022 so make sure you pay attention. We want the 2022 Blend to be something that every one of our Roadies can recreate and be able to buy the bourbon needed to create that blend. We want to thank all the Roadies who took a chance and sent in a blend this year’s challenge.

So with that grab a glass, your favorite blended bourbon so you can listen as Jim and I take another trip down The Bourbon Road with the Witchy Woman of Bourbon Ashly Barnes tasting 10 blends of bourbon for our Bourbon Blending Challenge 2021. Cheers.

Mike (Big Chief)

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