Tag: Blantons Single Barrel Bourbon

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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Hannah’s Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon Review

Original review written on September 25, 2019

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

A warming bourbon that always has a home on my shelf. Brilliant for those who lean towards the darker fruits, particularly cherries. 89/100

Tip: mix with a standard sized bottle (12 oz.) of Guinness stout beer, vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup for a cherry treat!

VITALS:

– Made in: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Buffalo Trace Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Single Barrel
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Suspected to be made from Buffalo Trace mash bill recipe #2, with rye component being between 12-15%
– Casks: New charred oak; Char: #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 46.5% (93 proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho

Visit buffalotracedistillery.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed this juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

With the mellowness and cherries, I feel as though this bourbon politely asks to be enjoyed on a spring walking path with cherry blossom trees shrouding the trail in their full, pink bloom.

Photo by Sora Sagano on Unsplash

NOSE:

Little burn from alcohol, just a soft glow of warmth mixed with a gentle floral note, dried cherries and sweet maraschino cherries. Other scents include apple with brown sugar or caramel. A deep inhale coaxes out sweet almonds. Very little oak.

PALATE:

– Mouth feel: Very mellow and soft
– Balance: Blended
– Visual: A tawny color with clinging droplets in the Glencairn

– Taste: Cherries are there in both a fresh and dried capacity. The caramelly spice kicks in just at the end. Other dark fruits like figs are present in very small quantities. Truthfully, the blend is so well executed, it is hard to distinguish between other flavors.

With a Kentucky chew, the dried dark fruits take point at the sides of the tongue in a way almost reminiscent of fruit leather. There still isn’t a great deal of wood to taste, but with each sip, one feels as though it sneaks out more and more. This may also be due to increasing temperature in the glass. Definitely recommend drinking this warm for best tasting experience.

FINISH:

– Lasting power: There is a long finish that stays true to the dark cherry taste with the fruit leather.
– No More: As the bourbon warms, accompanying warmth comes through the taste. The oak also becomes more prominent and fills the empty Glencairn glass. I could sit and smell this glass all day.

WORTH THE PRICE?

Your answer may depend on what your favorite flavor profile is. I think it’s worth it.

RATING: 89/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

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