Before first light on Friday, August 8, 2025, a ten-strong squad of Augusta Buckner’s Bourbon fanatics assembled with one mission: find the best barrel of Buckner’s 13 we’d ever tasted — preferably a hazmat-level powerhouse that could still be enjoyed neat.

John Prater • Mike Kawa • Devin Behrens • Dustin Mount • Mark Castle • Kelley Anderson • Michael Humphrey • Amanda Mountain • Michael Walker (MAW) • Matthew Shipley

We were presented with three contenders, each with fantastic qualities. But as the tasting battle unfolded, one pour started to pull ahead. The nose at first evaded us, but as everyone knows good things come to those who wait, and we were so glad we took our time because the nose opened up with an explosion of oak and sweetness.

The palate already had us at “hello” from the first sip, bursting with flavor, and while the finish wasn’t the longest of the day, it lingered in a warm, sweet-oak embrace that made you immediately reach for more.

Then came the moment of truth…heads nodded, grins formed, and when the vote was called, Barrel 2 swept the room.

Nose: Oaky and sweet with dark fruit and a hint of citrus

Palate: Honey, confectionary sugar, apricot, and that same oak from the nose just lingering and creating a delicious balance of oak and sweet.

Finish: Sweet, oaky, and medium-warm; dangerously moreish

One word: Juicy Fruit Gum

When I closed my eyes, my brain went straight to that Juicy Fruit Gum commercial — the taste and smell triggering the same rush of energy. As the jingle says: “The taste is gonna move you.”

We hope this Buckner’s 13 banger is going to move you to reach for another pour as much as it did for us.

When the proof was revealed at 142.92, the team was in disbelief and gasps were heard throughout the room, and confirmation was loud and clear our mission was a huge success!