Corporate Bourbon Tasting (1st one, Tastings #50)

Corporate Bourbon Tasting (March 24th, 2026)

This was my 7th Bourbon tasting, and 1st Corporate Bourbon Tasting.  Other Corporate Tastings have all been with Rum.   Their CEO chose the bottles, based on a few suggestions, of what was available.  The participants experience with Bourbon, was varied, with quite a few beginners.  The bottles in question were;

The Tasting was well attended with 16 people voting.  We started off the tasting, with a cocktail.  I figured it would be a good way to break the ice, and show how good quality ingredients, make the difference.  We made a black Russian, quickly followed up, by a white Russian.  I’m shocked how well Kahlua and Baileys Cream sell, and yet they are lower quality products, in my humble opinion (IMHO).  You can get way better quality creams and coffee liqueurs for the same, or maybe 10% more money.  We used Ketel One Vodka, and Barista Coffee Liqueur, and a Coconut Rum Cream, all at a ratio of 1 to 1 to 1..I’d suggest Mr. Black, as the Coffee Liqueur instead of Kahlua in the US.

We then moved into the Bourbons, after cleansing our palates.  Some of the white Russians went down a lot faster, than others.

The tasting was done blind, I always like to start with a good liquor, for the category, for my “A”.  EH Taylor is good one for sure.  I think it might have suffered, being first, even if we gave a chance for everyone to re-vote for “A”.

We had a few high proofs, four at 100 proof or over, and a few lower ones, 86 and 93 proof.  We had some Bourbons, and some non-Bourbons (American Whisky).  I think it was a good mix.  We had 2 allocated Bourbons, some good hard to get ones, and some plain old good reliable ones.

In terms of guessing which is which, in the blind tasting, based on the tasting notes, vs one’s palate.

The Winners!

The clear winner was Penelope Cigar Sessions : Chapter 1, at 7.3/10, with 101 proof.  In 2nd place was Michter’s Sour Mash, with 7.0, with 86 proof.  In 3rd was Blanton’s Original Single Barrel, at 93 proof.  So the two bottles with the lowest proof placed 2nd and 3rd.  The 1st and 2nd, were both American Whisky’s…although the Sour Mash, most would consider a Bourbon.

I’d say scores would usually be higher, but the two Jeffs were obviously not Bourbon fans, giving most of the bottles a vote of 3, with only their favorite a ‘9’.  This would have moved most scores up half a point..ie 7.8 vs 7.3, if 7’s instead of 3’s.

All in all it was a very fun time, but I’m biased.  There was very good participation, and good questions.  I hope everyone learned something, and have a new or renewed appreciation for Bourbon, and maybe even White Russians!

1st Place (7.3) $95

2nd Place (7.0) $50

3rd Place (6.9) $125

The Survey Results