New This Year:

The whiskey selection has been significantly upgraded! This is the first year we're using barrels from 5 different KY distilleries. In years past, the whiskey has solely come from MGP. Some of the bottles created will be incredible. The age range has also increased to 8-12 years old. 

Registration:

Team Registration is open to the public on June 1st. Similar to last year, we will cap entries at 30 teams. We recommend registering your team early before spots fill up.

Registration Fee: 

To register a team of up to 4 people, a $1200 donation to the local charity, Tressured Vessels Foundation, is required. The donation is tax-deductible and goes directly to the charity. 

Event Location: 

The event will take place at The Whiskey Blendery, located at 147 Lloyd's Rd Suite 100, Oak Point, TX 75068. Google maps will take you there. Blending is onsite to ensure variables for each team are consistent, with no advantages to any one team. 

Blending Sessions:

After registering, each team is responsible for scheduling a 90-minute window during normal business hours. Teams have until July 31st to complete their blending session and submit their unique recipe. Time slots are first come, first served Tues-Fri Noon-6pm, and Saturday 11-4pm.

Judging Process:

Local judges for early rounds will have demonstrated significant involvement in the whiskey community, both in knowledge/experience and willingness to help others in need. All entries will be randomly assigned into brackets of 6, similar to last year. Judges will draw numbers to determine which bracket they fall into and won't be told anything about the whiskeys in their bracket. Multiple panels of 3+ judges will blindly taste all 6 whiskeys in their bracket and independently record their 1st and 2nd favorites. Tie breakers will be settled by a majority vote in a secondary blind tasting. The top two blends from each bracket will continue to advance. The finals will consist of the 4 highest-ranked blends with industry experts selecting the winner.

Prizes:

1st Place: Each participant on the winning team will receive a complimentary Founding Membership with a team locker in our tasting room, valid for 12 months. The team will also receive a barrel head trophy. Additionally, they will earn bragging rights for 12 months. The total value of this prize is over $10,000. Not to mention, it's currently the only way to become a Member.

2nd Place: $1000 in gift cards to be used in our gift shop.

3rd Place: $500 in gift cards to be used in our gift shop.

4th Place: A firm handshake.

+ Teams must consist of 2-4 people, with one person designated as the Team Lead.

+ The Team Lead is responsible for scheduling the 90-minute block of time (during normal business hours) during the month of July at The Whiskey Blendery in Oak Point, TX. Any teams that don't get scheduled in July will forfeit their position. 

+ Each team will receive four 375ml bottles of their custom blend to take home as a thank you for supporting this charity. You'll have the option to upgrade to a 750ml bottle for an additional fee. 

+ All teams entered will blend with the same 5 (and very different) single barrels. The details on each single barrel donated for this competition will remain unknown until blending commences but will be posted on our social media. This increases the difficulty level and requires participants to craft a unique whiskey without outside influence. Each single barrel will be presented to the teams at cask strength. The barrels used range from 8 to 12 years old.

+ Punctuality is crucial. The clock will start precisely at the scheduled start time for each team's blending session. It is highly recommended that all team members arrive before the designated start time to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted experience.

+ Each team will submit their custom blend under the following structure. 15 minutes to taste the 5 single barrels provided and strategize, and 60 minutes to blend. There will not be 15 minutes of orientation this year to make sure you know the rules. That's your responsibility to review prior to your session. If team members show up late, they are welcome to join their team but no additional time will be given.

+ Teams must submit their recipes with a minimum of 5% of at least 3 barrels in their blend, but are welcome to use all 5. NEW RULE: If 4 or 5 barrels are used, the 5% requirement is not applicable to the 4th or 5th barrel.

+ Distilled water will be available. Blends may be kept at cask strength or proofed down to taste.

+ Participants in the competition cannot be part of the judging panel.

+ After registering, a confirmation email will be sent to the team leader and Jeannine will be in touch shortly to schedule your team's blending session. It's easier to track registration donations if the Team Leader makes one gift, but there will be an option for each person to make a separate donation if desired. This year, we'll also need a T-shirt size for all participants.