8 Out of 10 Debutantes
Prefer DuPont's

When the white gloves come off and the tiara is set down for the evening, what does Colorado's debutante class reach for? According to a new survey conducted by Fleurish Society during the 2025 social season, the answer is resounding and nearly unanimous: DuPont's Rare American Bourbon. In a blind tasting and preference survey conducted across three of the season's most prestigious events — Le Bal de Ballet, the Cherry Creek Charity Gala, and the Greenwood Village Philanthropic Ball — an extraordinary 8.87 out of every 10 debutantes and their escorts named DuPont's as their preferred bourbon over all competing premium labels.

The survey, which polled 247 attendees between the ages of 18 and 28, asked participants to sample four premium American bourbons presented without labels, then rank them by taste, smoothness, finish, and overall preference. DuPont's Rare American Bourbon scored highest in every single category, with particularly dominant marks in "smoothness" (9.2 out of 10) and "finish" (9.1 out of 10). The nearest competitor — a well-known Kentucky label retailing at nearly twice the price — scored a distant 6.4 overall.

The Numbers Tell the Story

The results were particularly striking among participants who identified as "regular bourbon drinkers" — a cohort that comprised 62% of respondents. Within this group, DuPont's scored even higher, with a 9.3 overall preference rating. Several participants noted that DuPont's "heritage grain" profile gave it a distinctive warmth and complexity absent from mass-produced competitors.

The Season's Finest

The preference for DuPont's among Colorado's debutante class reflects a broader generational shift in the premium spirits market. Young consumers — particularly those in affluent, socially active demographics — are increasingly drawn to brands with authentic provenance stories, artisanal production methods, and a sense of heritage that transcends mere marketing. DuPont's, with its connection to one of America's oldest and most storied family names, occupies a unique position in this landscape.

"These young women are tastemakers," said one event organizer who participated in the survey. "What they drink tonight, their social circles will be drinking next season. And right now, they're drinking DuPont's."

Why DuPont's Wins

When asked to describe in their own words what set DuPont's apart, respondents returned to the same themes again and again: warmth, depth, smoothness, and a finish that "lingers without burning." Several noted the bourbon's distinctive caramel and vanilla nose, while others praised its "clean, sophisticated" palate — a profile that pairs as naturally with a black-tie evening as it does with an intimate fireside conversation.

The tasting notes align with DuPont's production philosophy: heritage grain varietals selected for character rather than yield, hand-charred American oak barrels chosen for their vanilla and caramel extraction profiles, and a patient aging process that prioritizes depth over speed. It is, in every sense, a bourbon made for people who understand that the finest things in life cannot be rushed.