These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Andy called it pretty.. Get Drinkhacker's top stories, exclusive goodies, and more! Andy felt he was being nice with that score. It packs a punch in terms of spice, and there is a rich, heavy dose of oak, along with the flavors of juicy raisins, honey, caramel, and smooth vanilla. Finish:The sweet fruit from the nose and palate doesnt stop on the finish. Tart cherries. Morning John, would the straight from the barrel be counted as a single barrel or would it be a vatting of various barrels? But that would a great idea that we could get behind. Pick . Additionally, it comes back to being one of the few single barrel, barrel proof offerings on the market and one that delivers an experience that helps justify the higher price. The Liquor Laboratory is intended for adults over the age of 21 and the legal drinking age. 13.5/15. Because of this strange nature, the only Blantons available within the US is the original 93 proof version. Evan Williams spends at least seven years in white oak casks inside the distiller before being poured into bottles. Blantons Gold Edition is only sold to select non-U.S. markets. But can you buy Blantons at Costco? Its a shame that Buffalo Trace doesnt offer this in its own domestic marketplace as many would snap this up as quick as they do the bottles in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Think Ill sit back and have a sip. Andy and I both got honey. Barrel proof bourbons are more and more common in todays marketplace, with many more new releases being barrel proof / cask strength than in years past. After resting for a bit, the alcohol notes are less harsh than both the gold and the original. 12/15, Taste Spicier than the original. Color: Pecan nuts. The distillery was given a special pass to continue the production of medical whiskey [1]. Dark chocolate, caramel with earthy undertones of walnut and hazelnut on the nose. Nice legs, with a little beaded ring around the top. An apple pie note creeps up at the end. "Blanton's continues to be one of our most sought after bourbons," says Kris Comstock, senior marketing director. Appearance A shade or two darker than the gold, but not as dark as I expected from the barrel proof. There is also a hint of orange zest somewhere in the aroma. This one also edges Blantons Original and probably even competes with some of the higher proof Antique Collection offerings. The company is releasing it to buyers in annual editions at a suggested price of roughly $120. Really a shame that they make consumers go out of their way to try it, because I find the bolder flavor profile to be more well rounded than what you currently see in other Buffalo Trace single barrel products. In the mouth: Astringent toffee, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, hints of peaches, brandied cherry juice and watermelon. This cask strength bourbon is beloved amongst connoisseurs. Thanks for this well-done review. Slightly more alcohol on the nose. 130.9 proof. The Brown Derby is a drink named after the horse racing tradition in the state of Kentucky. After the first two missed the sweetness he generally prefers, Andy finally got some sugar and I also got sweet maple syrup. Oak. The palate is wonderfully rich and honeyed with layers of vanilla and toffee. Theres cherry jolly ranchers, red delicious apples, Tupelo Honey, a decent amount of candied orange peel as well. Made from a unique mash bill of corn, rye for spice, and malted barley. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. It was built in 1857 and is considered the oldest running distillery in the United States. Andy picked up clove and some citrus while Brad got cinnamon and fig. The registered Bottle No. First Sips: All of us described it as dry, and both suspected it was at least a higher rye bourbon. Good afternoon r/bourbon! I wish HK all the best as I am very fond of that place. The bottle is unique. Contact at [emailprotected] or learn more about us here. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Released throughout the year, you can usually find a bottle online in the foreign market if you look hard enough and are willing to pay import fees. How Long Does Baileys (And Other Cream Liqueurs) Last? Whisky reviews with objectivity and transparency. Unfortunately, the surprise was blown by that point, but it is worth providing the post-reveal tasting notes compared to my bottle: Color: Slightly darker amber than the other Blantons Original. The palate delivers warm vanilla, oak, toasted nuts and a rich spiciness with hints of butterscotch or honey. Fortunately, my RHF to Blantons Gold comparison was still alive and well. As a result, Ive been hearing that Blantons has been hard to find in the US as of late. Nice reviews - enjoying the standard myself, I'd love to do a tasting among the different releases. Unfortunately, after drinking the other higher-proofers and pulling the curtain back on the experiment, there was no reliable way to accurately rate Andys bottle, more reminiscent of what wed consider the typical Blantons. Legs roll much more slowly down the glass. What kind of Malt contributor would I be if I cant associate that fiery and romanticized era with American whiskey. Bottled at a higher strength than Original Single Barrel, Gold Edition is only available in select non-US markets around the world. The finish is drying but complemented by subtle flavors of black pepper and dried apricot. No one really knows why but its part of the non-disclosure agreement between the brand owner, Age Intl, and Sazerac. Thank you, Dave! It's refreshing Additionally, Im not blown away tasting anything so unique that you might find in a George T. Stagg or a William Larue Weller. Really hoping to get a full wooden flavor out of it. Congrats on making your inbox infinitely better. But we could do with your support each month think of it as buying us a dram. But who makes Blantons bourbon? Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon comes from casks aged inside the Buffalo Trace's Warehouse H, the only metal-clad warehouse in the location. Of course, movies and shows have shown us that cowboys like to spend their time drinking booze in saloons. Andy got some fruit and faint caramel, while Brad picked up a dryer sheet scent and lightly tanned leather. Blanton's Straight From the Barrel was the third version created, after the Original 93 proof and Gold 103 proof. Food & Drink, Book a Tour It is a perfect balance of strong and sweet, with a hint of citrus. That year, Sazerac Company announced domestic annual limited releases of 103 proof Blanton's Gold and cask proof Blanton's Straight From the Barrel. The registered Bottle No. Ours was dumped in 2015 and weighs in at 128.5 proof. Really reflects my opinion of Blanton's perfectly. Although we would insist that you first try this premium bourbon on its own, here are a few cocktail recipes that would still highlight this liquors flavors. In the Blantons fashion its not overly complex with wave on wave of flavor, but it is certainly an enjoyable finish. We all agree a few drops of water is the better way to go. That man was Albert B. Blanton and the young man he told to take a hike in 1949 was Elmer T. Lee. This is far better than Blantons Original in almost every way. $ 50.00. Palate:Liquified cherry pie filling, dark brown sugar, brown butter. From my experience, the odds are strong youll get a good one and if so, bottle all the way. I continually spread the praises and share a taste, whenever possible. The rare Blanton's Gold has become beloved by connoisseurs and collectors world wide. Blantons Whiskey is a single-barrel bourbon whiskey distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky. I'm more of a SFTB guy. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. While this isnt perfect, you cant go wrong with this bourbon. While the alcohol isnt overpowering, it definitely makes itself present and takes away ever so slightly from the experience. On the nose: A mellow heat followed by mild scents of toffee, honey, dusty wooden furniture, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg. 1792 Single Barrel. Since the barrels are housed in a metal warehouse, it allows for faster heat transfer than those traditionally made from brick (thus, faster aging). Much better coating the tongue, though Id say it still falls short of the velvety blanket that is George T Stagg or Thomas H Handy. Youre getting about 2oz less if you pick up a Blantons Gold, but its worth it. Legs roll much more slowly down the glass. Created for connoisseurs familiar with cask strength whiskeys, this enormous taste profile reaches depths of flavor found only in the rarest of spirits. Ironically that burn is really just contained to my mouth and doesnt travel down my throat or into my stomach like some other barrel proof bourbons like George T. Stagg are known to do. If you're not old enough to drink, then you're not old enough to read Breaking Bourbon. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Press Esc to cancel. The products are also richer and more concentrated. it's thick, bold, and deeply sweet - just the way i like my bourbon. I am guessing this is not extra aged so theres not much added complexity and length. Begin typing your search above and press return to search. All bourbons are whiskey, as bourbon is a type of whiskey (much like champagne is a type of wine). Raisins, dried fruit, orange citrus zest, and lightly toasted oak all merge together in a perfect blend. We dont want to partner with brands. The Burn: Not a lot of burn but a little longer finish. Taking a big breath in the alcohol is definitely upfront and noticeable, as should be expected for a 130 proof bourbon. Read Brett's full profile. I generally pay about $160 for mine, but I take a couple months minimum to finish a bottle once I've opened it. It's good stuff, if I'd tried it before sending those bottles out I might have held onto more! Some Blantons brands are pricier than others, and this is because the other brands are aged longer in the distillery and have higher proofs. It was named after Albert B. Blanton, one of Buffalo Trace Distillerys early leaders. Muddle the strawberries and basil leaves at the bottom of a large cocktail glass. Strain and pour into a chilled cocktail glass. His bottle of Blantons was improved in every category from color to finish, and we all enjoyed it much more than mine. A dry heat stays in your mouth for a noticeable time and really prolongs the finish. We could give you many reasons to join, but we think our members say it best. The Blantons horse is a symbol of quality, but we often forget it is a single barrel, meaning there will be variation among the bottles. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Drew Beard is Assistant Editor and Social Media Manager for Drinkhacker. Color: Really dark amber entering brown territory. Blantons Straight from the Barrel is bottled at an ABV of 65 percent. Our Noses Noticed: The alcohol vapor was strong and I had trouble pulling distinct flavors from it neat. We dont want to sell advertising. Blanton's Gold Edition - This bourbon is unexpectedly gentle on the nose with aromas of cinnamon and ripe peach. Buffalo Trace Mashbill #2 products are generally some of the hardest to find products in the Buffalo Trace portfolio. Wild Turkey Russells Reserve has prices starting roughly at $65 for a 750ml bottle. 20. In a word, delicious. 113 Great Buffalo Trace All content on this website is for informational and educational purposes only. 8/10, Nose Fragrant. I actually prefer the Gold Edition over the Original version, and its a shame that this isnt sold in the U.S. at slightly higher price than Blantons Original Single Barrel. BLANTON'S GOLD Blanton's Gold is sold in select non-U.S. markets in 700 mL label-less bottles, rather than the standard 750 mL. Didnt realize it was that long ago. First Sips: Brad immediately jumped on the mouthfeel: outstanding. Andy let it coat his mouth, again and again, enjoying the caramel and cinnamon flavor burst from the higher proof. Not exactly what I'd call a good value proposition. The finish is definitely drier, however it carries with it a nice flavor profile of preserved peaches, light vanilla, raisins, and oak. Please check your entries and try again. As for the full collection of stoppers, anyone can get that for $8 online. As for my comparison experiment, the taste isnt very close to Rock Hill Farms. I decided that a semi-blind test would be the best way to determine this and sat down to sample these bottles neat and in a glencairn. If you enjoy Blanton's Original Single Barrel, this is one of two opportunities to try a higher proofed version from the distillery, the other being Blanton's Straight from the Barrel. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Much like Knob Creek, Four Roses is also bottled at 50 percent ABV. It's a totally different animal. In fact, Andy ran home to get his bottle to prove it. 21/30, Finish A bit of lingering spice, but fades out rather uneventfully. Our Noses Noticed: All three of us got vanilla on the nose. Andy felt it wasnt very distinct with more burn than flavor. Long finish with some rye spice. Andy guessed it might be a rye but predicted a sweet flavor when he tasted it. *Bourbon Culture is reader-supported. Blanton's Straight from the Barrel - review Dumped on 6-6-13, From barrel # 298 in warehouse H on rack # 46, bottled at 64.1% abv. haha. Frankly, neither appeals to me but it sounds like the Black is a couple years older than the Green. The SFTB is the real deal. Dont get me wrong, I find this to be slightly better than the Blantons Original Single Barrel, however due to the fact that I can get almost two bottles of Blantons Original Single Barrel - which is fantastic in its own right - for the price of one bottle of the Gold Edition, it makes it a trickier situation. First Sips: Vanilla and a little rye spice. You can pretty much always get SFTB online, though it's a bit pricey once shipping factors in. Our Noses Noticed: Higher proof was evident. Its very complex and expressive. Brad thought water actually added to the burn but didnt draw out any more flavor. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Our Noses Noticed: Caramel and vanilla and Brad noted some butterscotch. It is the first of its kind to be marketed as a single-barrel whiskey, with plenty of positive reviews and a collection of accolades. Finish:The moneymaker Cherry Cordial nose returns on the finish. Additionally, if you regularly miss out on the BTAC release each year, its a nice alternative that still delivers a great unique experience from Buffalo Trace. Dropping a hitter today as we #bottlepop #Blantons Straight from the Barrel and taste that up against #Stagg Jr batch 14. A lingering spice defines this bold finish. All turned up to 11.. It may not reach the greatness of the William Larue Weller, but its also a quarter of the aftermarket price. All rights reserved. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Aside from Blantons they own other brands that use Buffalo Trace Distillerys mash bill #2 like Ancient Age, Rockhill Farms, Elmer T Lee and Hancocks Reserve. Sunday 11:00am-5:00pm EDT The title is an obvious give away that, for me, I associate the Blantons with the show more. Its a shame because the heat overpowers the flavors just a little too much in this case to really appreciate all this has to offer. It was stored in Warehouse H on Rick No. If I were to compare this with Westworlds season 1 though, because it was our intro to the show just like this bourbon is our intro to Blantons, it wouldnt fit the boot. Reviews and discussions are encouraged, check out the stuff we've compiled in the sidebar and our review archive! https://m.facebook.com/story/graphql_permalink/?graphql_id=UzpfSTEwMDMxNDAyNDg3ODk5MToxNTQ2MDk5MDYxMTYwNjk%3D. The warmth sits on the tongue for an enjoyable minute. At a $10 premium to Blantons Original, and lower scores than a solid bottle of Blantons, none of us can recommend a bottle purchase, but its definitely worth a glass at a bar. This is the first SFTB Ive tried and owned so I have no other comparisons. Blantons Straight From the Barrel was the third version created, after the Original 93 proof and Gold 103 proof. The heat in the palate and finish may run rampant and would be served better if it was tamed, but if you like Blantons, youre in for a treat to experience it at barrel strength. I agree to receive promotional emails from the Buffalo Trace Distillery online gift shop. Most single barrel bourbons normally cost a lot more than blended whiskies. It more than makes up for it in the mouth. I have read and agree to theTerms of Use andPrivacy Policy. Presence is felt on direct contact, but as swirled around on the tongue, it has little lingering ability. After some water and a swirl, he called the nose beautiful. Brad got caramel, sea salt and some pear. There are multiple different expressions of Blanton's, each being a different proof. I dont blame the new fans. None of them are age stated and they will tell you they bottle by taste. Both Black and Green are 80 proof. If you're not old enough to drink, then you're not old enough to read Breaking Bourbon. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. So I guess more locals are buying it at home or tourists are buying them. Posted on Published: December 9, 2019- Last updated: June 15, 2021, Minor Case Sherry Cask Finished Rye Whiskey Review. Aside from Japan, Singapore and France, Im not sure which other countries sell more than just the Original Single Barrel. Blantons Single Barrel, another quality Buffalo Trace product, is also increasingly harder to find these days. I remember buying this for $85 around 3 years ago. Please use a modern browser for the best experience on this site. Bar for sure (if youre at a bar overseas) and Bottle for sure if someone can get it for you in the UK for $80 like they did for me. The Original Single Barrel is bottled with an ABV of 46.5 percent and has caramel, honey, and vanilla tasting notes. Good catch by you, but I just cant recall exactly why. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Battle of the Blantons didnt work out exactly as I planned, but I still consider it a huge success because of what it demonstrated to all three of us. We do not sell your personal information. Add the sugar and bitters to the bottom of a lowball glass. 11/15, Taste Light oak, a bit of spice. Overall 76/100 Im sure Ill take some heat here, but I just really cannot get into this one despite multiple attempts. Produced by Buffalo Trace, Blanton's Straight from the Barrel is a single barrel aged in Warehouse H like all Blanton's products, bottled at cask strength after aging between 6-8 years (though it is non-age-stated). As a Blantons descendant, Im assuming youve had access to older bottles. Blantons Whiskey is aged 6 to 8 years in a metal-clad warehouse in the Buffalo Trace Distillery. A recovering Federal government employee, he is happy to have finally found a career where it is acceptable to drink on the job. Overall though, Blantons Gold gave me the more complete experience. https://www.bourbonbanter.com/author/brett-atlas/. I cannot find your bourbon anywhere. Your email address will not be published. I live in Texas, but come from Ky. Where my late little brother turned me on to Blantons several years ago and it was my drink of choice until I couldnt find it anymore. The high alcohol by volume is intense and powerful, yet inviting. Its not quite the same accomplishment, but you can buy the gold stoppers at the Blantons Bourbon Shop! Some of the cherry crumb pie does carry over. The Special Reserve edition is bottled and sold only in the United Kingdom. It was 3 1/2 years ago, so Im not positive exactly why that was. Very similar to the taste profile, almost indistinguishable. You really are contending with the heat though to pick out these flavors. Nose - Fragrant. 26/30, Mouthfeel Below average viscosity. It is a great quality whiskey to start with to familiarize yourself especially if youre a beginner looking for a liquor guide. Two Hashtags makes the text bold, bigger, and a different color (I think). Its [], Our Top 10 Most Memorable Whiskies of 2022 is now, These Experimental Rye Whiskey's from @smokewagonw, Like this song? Press J to jump to the feed. is 53. Straight From the Barrel (often abbreviated to SFTB) is Blanton's 6- to 8-year-old bourbon bottled at full power 128 proof. 27/30, Finish You can tell on the finish that this is a barrel proof bourbon. This version of Blantons offers a unique chance to see what Blantons tastes like when its cranked up to full strength, and boy does it deliver on that promise. This cask strength bourbon is beloved amongst connoisseurs. Hahaha I didn't notice the stfu until I read the other comment. Straight From the Barrel Not only one of the world's best bourbons, Blanton's Straight from the Barrel is one of the world's best whiskeys. Company:Sazerac Company Inc., Blanton's Distilling Company, Mashbill:Corn, Rye, Malted Barley - (Exact ratios not provided, however this uses the Buffalo Trace Mashbill #2 which is said to be 12-15% rye). Blanton's Gold Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon (700ml)(European Import) SKU #1645559 . But I guess this is the issue with single barrels. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 10.5/15. That being said, its really interesting to see not only what Blantons tastes like at full strength, but also how great of a job Buffalo Trace does in taming this beast down to the standardBlantons Original Single Barrelthats lower cost and more readily accessible in the U.S.Blantons SFTB only being sold in select non-U.S. markets and select domestic duty free stores is a shame. Many viewers felt season two fell short. It was stored in Warehouse H on Rick No. I thought it had a darker gold appearance but, then again, I knew it was Blantons Gold. Blanton's Straight From the Barrel was the third version created, after the Original 93 proof and Gold 103 . In 1984, Lee launched the now-legendary Blantons Single Barrel Bourbon by following the blueprint of its namesake. A native Chicagoan, he attended the University of Kansas and Chicagos John Marshall Law School before moving to Omaha, Nebraska, where he runs a packaging distribution company and enjoys opening bottles with good friends. The heat builds gradually; its almost nonexistent at first and then cascades into a long and slightly drying finish with hints of black tea. It was purchased for 70 when the dollar was trading at $1 to 1.55. Bottle, Bar or Bust: With scores of 94,95 and 96, the SFTB was hands down the champion.