Brian’s Blanton’s Single Barrel Review:
written on 28-July-2018
BLANTON’S SINGLE BARREL REVIEW:
Blanton’s is a subtle sipper, not quite sweet, but far from spicy. One might almost believe wheat is in the mash bill, but yet the rye spiciness is there. The flavors are so well married it could be believed there are fewer bourbons as well balanced.
BLANTON’S SINGLE BARREL VITAL STATS:
Region: Frankfort, KY, USA
Distiller: Blanton Distilling Company / Buffalo Trace
Mash Bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill #2, believed to be about 75-80% Corn, 12-15%; Rye, and the remainder Barley
Age: nas (est. 8-10 years)
Barrel Entry Proof: 125
ABV: 46.5% (93 Proof)
Reviewed bottle stats: Dumped on 26-January-2018, from barrel 1336, stored in warehouse “H”, on rick No. 18, Bottle stopper “L”*
Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho (2019)
https://buffalotracedistillery.com/
Blanton’s was the brain child of legendary master distiller, Elmer T. Lee. First released in 1984, makes it one of the older top shelf single barrel bourbons on the market.
*Keep the stoppers! Collect the whole set tp spell out B-L-A-N-T-O-N’-S. Each Blanton’s bottle has one of eight different horse and jockey poses representing the pair in different race positions – from sitting upright at the start, to his arm up in victory after crossing the finish line.)
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
For the evaluation, I shared the spirit neat from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.
Check out her review for this bourbon here!
BLANTON’S SINGLE BARREL NOSE:
A light citrus sweetness followed by a hint of maraschino cherry fills the air upon first sniff, then finishes with a faint aire of herbal spice.
BLANTON’S SINGLE BARREL PALATE:
Smooth butterscotch candy hits the tip of the tongue on the first draw, followed quickly by a soft but spicy bourbon feel. A second sip brings on warming cinnamon, subtle vanilla and a hint of toasted oaky bourbon richness.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Well balanced, Blanton’s is a darling of many a bourbon aficionado. Soft but spicy and rich with an amber-brown color it hangs moderately long legs in the Glencairn.
BLANTON’S SINGLE BARREL FINISH:
The finish is not over-long but is quite complex as the swallow slowly fades in the throat. As with the aroma and taste, soft cinnamon first rules then fades into a sweet maltiness making the mouth beg for more.
BLANTON’S SINGLE BARREL FINISHING STRENGTH:
Medium
MY BLANTON’S SINGLE BARREL RATING: 91/100
Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.
Click 90/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
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