2024 Bourbon Madness Kickoff

[@slbdrinks]

Here are the proofs for all the bottles: OCD 5 premium - 113.6 proof Buffalo Trace - 90 proof Russell’s Reserve - 114.8 proof Michter’s Barrel Strength - 109.8 proof Elijah Craig C923 - 133 proof Michter’s Small Batch 91.4 proof E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof - 127.3 proof Old Forester 1910 - 93 proof Makers Mark Cellar Aged - 115.7 proof Heaven Hill 7 Bottled In Bond - 100 proof Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof - 127.9 proof Old Forester 1924 - 100 proof Jack Daniel’s 12 - 107 proof Makers Mark 101 - 101 proof Wild Turkey Rare Breed - 116.8 proof OCD #5 - 108.8 proof

[@WhiskyForBeginners]

3:17 You had it right the first time, Kurt. The easy way to know whether it should be "me" or "I" is to use the word alone. Would you say "Me will be seeding...," or "I will be seeding...?" Whichever one you would use if Trenton weren't involved, is the one you use when he is involved. 🙂

[@Mr.KobeZoom]

I like how you’re including the watchers! I’m over the “bourbon madness videos on KZbin” but this I’m more into good call guys! Cheers

[@BuckMcAntlerson]

"Trenton and I will be..." is correct. "Thanks for joining Trenton and me..." is correct. The trick is just to remove the other person from the sentence and just say it as "I will be... " or "Thanks for joining me..." and then when you add "and Trenton", you'll say it the same way (I or me).

[@Super_Nope_13]

Yes! Thank you for this.

[@Robert.Sheard]

Yep... I is for a subject. Me is for an object. That elimination test was the only way my students ever caught on to that. English is weird.

[@DavidDodenhoff]

That's very helpful. But between you and I... No I'm kidding! (a tear rolls slowly down my face every time I hear, "Between you and I...")

[@Robert.Sheard]

@@DavidDodenhoff 😂

[@DavidSlocum-z9h]

And thank you for not using “myself” in there!

[@illby1971]

Trenton, I just missed you at Bee's liquor Sunday, lol. We were driving home from Kentucky to Wisconsin and had to stop and visit the place that takes care of you guys. Great store and selection! I had a great stop at Glenn's Creek as well, Dave is great and even went in the back and grabbed me an OCD #5 that they were filling at the time!! Fresh as you can get!!

[@CB-li9gw]

Can't believe that Beam is out! Trenton, you Benedict Arnold! OCD , due to its' limited distribution is a UNICORN. I have scored SE Wisconsin and NE Illinois in vain. Couldn't get into the bracket as I was on the other side of the world when it started. However, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Bourbon madeness.

[@michaeltrott4098]

My first March madness with yall! Very excited!

[@botdude]

New to bourbon appreciation and have thoroughly enjoyed SLB videos as part of the learning journey. Don't follow any sports these days but have often felt I'm missing out in some way with the bracket events. Very excited to combine the two and make some picks in a couple of brackets I finally have some favorites I am pulling for. Thanks for doing this! :)

[@shakyzeg]

This is how I build half of my Bourbon hunt list for the year! Looking forward to it gents!

[@manitobuckles]

I can't wait! Last year was so much fun! Cheers from Manitoba, Canada! 🥃🇨🇦

[@CoreyFehr]

Me as well!

[@rsr3162000]

Me too from mb

[@manitobuckles]

Don't you fellow Manitobans wish we had more bourbon selection at the LC?!!?

[@rsr3162000]

@@manitobuckles ya it's poor at best

[@whiskeybidness]

This is gonna be fun. It is interesting that you mentioned finding the best distillery but all the prizes are from just one distillery 🧐. Maybe in future years you could throw in a ECBP or a Glenns Creek bottle in the prizes. Thinking out loud. Looking forward to these showdowns! 🥃🥃

[@leebeasley7080]

Would be cool to get a glens creek release I haven’t seen it around here.

[@jacksmith2315]

Last year, if i remember correctly, they not only had bottles from different distilleries, but they were better bottles. But doesnt really matter. Its all for fun and the winner gets a free bottle so there's no reason to complain

[@johng5710]

I predict that Jack 12 will win in one of these brackets...stuff is phenomenal

[@jacksmith2315]

I keep hearing the 2023 jack 12 is better than the 2024, and the 2024 jack 10 is better than the 2024 jack 12, but last years 12 was better than the 10. Kinda shocked to hear the this years 12 dropped so much. Also heard there may be a 15 year coming out

[@go2whiskey]

The proofs of the bottles are not tie breaking the final two because if you add up the proof and have the same bottles the proofs will be the same.

[@BlindedByScience]

Greetings from Maryland - Fairly new to connoisseur bourbon drinking but I enjoy your channel and thought this would be fun so here goes!

[@thumperjdm]

Great line-up. Love the concept this year!

[@paulhendershot111]

I had a great time with this last year even though my brackets got blown up early, just like in a real March Madness bracket. Still a lot of fun to watch the blinds as they unfold.

[@prestonopp]

I’m obviously a little behind since this came out 11 days ago, but I would have advocated for Eagle Rare over regular BT. BT is half the price or less of Rare Breed, so I don’t feel like it’s a fair comparison for the shelf bottle. Plus the proof is too low on BT and it would feel thin compared to the others on that list. I’ll have to see if that holds true in your brackets! 😁👍

[@umami0247]

This should be interesting especially if you’re not drinking the same thing. Let the good times roll!!

[@rustbucket9318]

I wish I had some of these bottles. I'll just have to drink vicariously through y'all.

[@jacksmith2315]

This is one of the only videos with a bunch of allocated bottles that i have or have tried most of them. The michters barrel proof i dont have and never tried, but i have the toasted barrel proof rye. Never had the JD 12. My brother has the russells 13, im not much a fan of it. I actually liked it better when he first opened it than after it opened up. Too much nuttiness for me. Same with the c923. I actually havent even opened my bottle because i didnt like it when i tried my brothers, and ive tried it a couple times. Never been a huge ecbp fan, but i have a banger store pick thats way better than the c923. Never had any of the glens creek or whatever. The ocd's. They dont have distribution up here in MA. I have the eh taylor barrel proof, idk how trenton doesnt care for his, mines amazing. I was a little let down by it the first couple pours, it took awhile to open it, but once it did, its fantastic. Same happened with my eh taylor single barrel. I didnt care for it at all for the first like 2 maybe 3 months, but it finally opened up and became amazing. 1924, its good, but way over priced i feel, and i usually really like old forester. I guess its a different mashbill, its said to be the early times mashbill. I never tried the early times bottled and bond. Its no where here in MA or NH. The regular early times i didnt care much for. Its not terrible, but its definitely drinks like a cheap bourbon. I have had worse though, even far more expensive stuff thats not as good. I never would buy the bottle, but my brother did because of all the hype over the BiB. Id still love to try the BiB, especially before sazerac bought them out. I never tried the makers cellar age either. Thats one id love to get my hands on.

[@justinvandee9428]

Wish I had access to OCD #5 Premium. Was tough to do bracket with something not even seen let alone taste for comparison. Was still fun to watch series.

[@wvgreen]

Looks like a lot of work went into the making of this.. great job. This was a lot of fun actually. Wish I could participate but I’m missing a few of these bottles. I do have OCD and OCD premium!! Amazing stuff from Glens Creek.

[@RockulaRandy]

Love the idea of different seedings! Nice twist there, guys! Can't wait for the fun to begin! 🥃🥃

[@philestep7895]

Elijah Craig C923 at 133proof and Michter's Barrel Strength at 109.8proof for total 242.8

[@curtelverd4008]

Woohoo! Brackets submitted! Excited to see which ends up on top!

[@MichaelMiketa-we2by]

Just filled out the 2 predictions! This looks like fun!!

[@jasonvarela7236]

Great work on this, gonna be fun! Would be really cool to have y’all both sign all the giveaway bottles! 🤷

[@TheWhiskeyRambler]

Sounds fun! I’m going to try and participate!

[@timbuma3693]

Favorite time of year!

[@pizzawarlord9232]

My least favorite time of year for channel 😂 Have fun. See you in a month

[@johnk7093]

dang, mine didn't save.... ahh well, still fun to watch again this year.

[@seanstein8313]

This is awesome. Gonna be my first one. Gonna watch last years now!

[@dustinroberts3403]

I’ve been waiting for this! I always enjoy this series

[@stevenprobst4917]

This is a always so fun! looking forward to the tournament!!!

[@CreightonMiller]

8:25 As someone in pharma, your use of "shelf-stable" is flipping my brain

[@BuckFlicks]

If I win, can I have the Weller Antique instead of the Blanton’s?

[@WhiskeyCurious]

I'm confused how the proof total would be a tie breaker, all winners would have the same number. 🤔

[@clayspence4160]

I was wondering the same thing. Am I missing something?

[@sajrambob6794]

Got the rare reed based on this channel and love it! I think it will go far.

[@powertothesheeple5422]

Best bottle I've had thus far is B523, so whatever beats out your C923 will be on my hunt list for 2024.

[@FakingANerve]

IF anything beats C923. Don't forget that Kurt picked that over his previous two favorite ECBPs _AND_ George T. Stagg in a blind! 🤯

[@honker1307]

Great lineup guys, looking forward to this one.

[@Larwall-s49f]

As tie breaker you should have the combined proof from the two bottles that dont make it to the final.

[@jteff92]

@slbdrinks are you saying blantons is 1st and weller antique 107 is 2nd?? thats very very interesting

[@leebeasley7080]

Could have done points and added both the allocated and available bottles points together in the end to determine a winner.

[@tabray9567]

Will the batch of these whiskeys; I.e.; Russell 13 and EHTBP be listed?

[@annettezennario773]

I put in my predictions for both and one looks fine the other still says Predicting. Why???

[@Obi-wan-shino_b]

A better heads up would have been nice to get a bracket done. Also, what is the point of having the proof as a tie breaker? If two people pick the same two bottles for the final, it won't solve anything

[@Robert.Sheard]

Entered (even read the rules). I'm always dead last in these challenges, but they're always fun.

[@josephrodriguez1781]

Have you guys done best Japanese whisky?

[@kenharris9269]

Like others, my android phone doesn't display all of the proofs. If i get DQ'd so be it, it'll still be fun. But wanted you to know. (Mitchner barrel strength in particular)

[@davidlavin3492]

Always fun. Thanks for doing this guys

[@ALaw-Fights4theusers]

I was able to edit the bracket. And update the bracket.

[@buckrodgers7320]

March Madness with bourbon!!! Love it!!! Let the tasting begin!!!

[@itspabbs]

Ah, crap! I missed filling out brackets by less than 20 minutes...

[@link1ater]

I’m coming for that Weller 107 🔥

[@coreysstillbarking]

Would have loved to see KC 9 and KC 18. Where does one even find OCD?

[@namredwop]

What is the proof of the Michters barrel proof

[@Brad-ic4bp]

Yeah, they’re low barrel entry proof as it is.

[@johnf.kennedy5454]

If there is a tie, it would because the same bottles are selected. Won't they BOTH have the same proof number? And tied again?

[@dennisrand5396]

Yeah, I've had this concern for a few years. It's different from basketball in that the proof isn't independent of the bottle like points scored is independent of the team. I haven't been able to think of a better tie breaker...number of correct picks, then a random draw if still tied was the best I could come up with.

[@JimTaylorFTWTX]

In the video. Kurt didn’t add the .8 on Rare breed. I add the .’s when I did mine. Which is correct

[@jhamlin726]

Good luck to all. This will be fun!

[@JordanG_3031]

SLB Classics 0:00 Well they always get it right even if it isn’t the first try (bracket) 0:21 Trenton has been messing with Kurt during videos forever 0:54 Kurt focuses on the present 1:41 ATTENTION! 2:02 MVP Patreons 3:16 Kurt is trying to improve his grammar 3:46 oh this is going to have some fun upsets 4:55 Trenton actually got the description done 5:18 VERY IMPORTANT 6:45 Don’t be that guy or gal 7:32 Trenton did a pin! 8:08 old forester 8:36 Michter’s 9:11 Kurt did his sipping HW 9:16 Jack Daniel’s 9:58 Glens Creek 10:09 Kurt with the trick questions cause he knows Trenton can’t read 10:47 Makers mark 10:51 Trenton tries to do a magic trick 11:23 heaven hill 11:42 wild Turkey 11:51 Kurt has to listen to the patreons unlike Trenton 12:09 almost read each others thoughts 12:38 Buffalo trace 13:02 here comes the fun wager 13:35 EXAMPLE 13:56 Kurt is a human calculator… 😂 14:28 Trenton tries to over explain, but hopefully it helps 15:13 closing time is Wednesday 6:59 CDT 16:21 Kurt is about having fun, no stress 17:18 nice sign off and nod

[@rsr3162000]

Are the links for the brackets available?

[@RJR2222]

What about decimals. Rare breed is 116.8 proof. Do we include them or round down or up? Look forward to filling out bracket

[@stevethepom]

Hey guys I enjoy watching your shows all the way over here in Aussie just confused as to what you mean by allocated bottles ?

[@TheRobMaule]

Allocated bottles more difficult to find because they are not distributed to every state or region (or in much smaller quantities). The general offerings that they are able to ship (nearly) everywhere are considered non-allocated.

[@stevethepom]

@@TheRobMauleThanks my friend now i wont be as confused 👍

[@benbinner4190]

Is it required we "create an account" on that website, I sent in my bracket with my name and email and everything but didn't create an actual account

[@goodbyegalaxy]

Is the tie breaker Price Is Right rules (closest without going over)? Or just closest?

[@galactic_ape1929]

We all going to keep ignoring the fact Kurt keeps getting his brains screwed out? 😂

[@davidbrown5906]

Don’t know how that statement didn’t get a LOT more comments. “Out” vs “Up” is a big difference maker w that verbiage.

[@MarkCombs-w5k]

I was wondering what the proof on the OCD bottles are?

[@justinmassa6287]

I was trying to make a bracket and none of the bottles have proof on the bracket. How do we know what proof these bottles are to put in our entry name?

[@justinmassa6287]

but we can’t google like JD single barrel barrel proof those are dependent on the barrel. I would assume the other single barrel is the same as well

[@justinmassa6287]

I also have 2 different proof wild turkey rare breeds

[@kevinconnolly8784]

@@justinmassa6287Good point. Perhaps Trenton can help.

[@jarrodbowers9660]

I think part of the game is guessing the proof points of each bottle

[@slbdrinks]

Good point Justin, I definitely overlooked that part! Let me see if I can update those proof points in the bracket and I’ll report back shortly.

[@JimTaylorFTWTX]

Is there a way to print out our predictions

[@sherriedickens6112]

I am sorry, but I am not following how I fill out my bracket. I have joined challonge, and cannot see the bourbon picks on either bracket (Kurt/Trent). What am I missing here?

[@sherriedickens6112]

I figured it out in the nick of time! 😊

[@go2whiskey]

Can you pick OWA over Blanton's?

[@userperson5259]

Let the madness begin

[@ncdorito213]

Tournament time for SLB!!!

[@gregorypettit5981]

This is gonna be fun. I can't wait.

[@chuckkimmins7954]

Hey Trenton, is there a way to go back and amend my proof? I entered the wrong number and now don't know how to go back and edit.

[@JosephMattingly-w8q]

no jim beam? :(

[@leeknowlton7303]

My first thought was "UH-OH the Russell's 13 is gone off the shelf."

[@gregwatson5554]

If we forgot to pick the final selection before submitting, is there any way to go back in and change it?

[@FightForSound]

I was very very lucky to get a Pappy 20 for 450.00. The whiskey luck be with you all.

[@nicviv1165]

March Madness Begins! ❤

[@digitalbrandon8850]

What's the proof on the OCD#5 and OCD #5 Premium? Seems like they vary from batch to batch and I can't find it online

[@richardinman4475]

I am feeling good about my brackets. I think I know the tastes and preferences of Kurt and Trenton, but you never know

[@tobyhayes611]

I believe Russell's Reserve 114.8 or Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8 will win.

[@mattallen4035]

why no Larceny Barrel proof?

[@MTBourbonSociety]

Are you guys going to know what you are tasting or will it be blind?

[@wesleyaforte]

How do you put the proof for the final 2?

[@tylerbazlen7066]

I am sorry Trent, I messed up, I will resend my drafts. I will use my work email this time, so you can ignore my incorrectly formatted ones.

[@josephclites6971]

Haha...it's "Trenton and I" but who cares. Love yall!!

[@chadb7006]

Are my brains screwed out, or is the tie breaker flawed? If you tie, it is likely both people will have the same bottles in the final and the same proofs. In a b-ball bracket tie breaker you are guessing a score so it is likely different for those who tie.

[@davidmeier1811]

If it is like the regular March Madness no one ever has a perfect bracket, so maybe it the people who have the most correct answers? The odds of anyone picking both winners in both brackets are pretty low.

[@Coops_automotive]

What is the prize list again?

[@davidmeier1811]

You can watch the intro again

[@kurama4977]

Makers Mark is made by beam suntory tho so there’s that

[@foobird02]

I had the EH Taylor BP the other day. I liked it. If you wanna drop it off to somebody else, I’ll take it off your hands

[@wolfze613]

Don’t worry Trenton, our predictions will be done with precision. I hope. lol

[@DAJDive]

Question. Whos going to add up the final total proof? Cause Kurt can't do it!!!!! :D

[@kingkrow420]

I don’t understand making the proof guess just whatever you have ending up in the finals, thats not really a tie breaker as you two could just do that quick math. The guess should be more like hedge in case you get one of the bottles wrong, but did so well in the previous rounds that you still end up tying. Also, I would much prefer the Antique if I take first over a Blanton’s

[@Brad-ic4bp]

No Four Roses distillery in the mix either.

[@jacksmith2315]

This is one of the only times id rather come in second than 1st

[@will0834]

Do you have to be a member to do this?

[@slbdrinks]

No you do not.

[@TCayFF]

Bummer no four roses?

[@thefamily7638]

Jim Beam was the best 2024 distillery imo

[@kevinconnolly8784]

Go time!

[@christianspinks595]

Can I have your EHT BP?

[@100puremustard5]

Wow. BT finishes last imo😂 at least the lower proof for sure!