Blanton's - Straight From The Barrel - (United States)
$150
Blanton’s – Straight From The Barrel – (United States) – 129.2 Proof
Barrel Info: Dumped 09/29/20 – Warehouse H – Rick No 35 – Barrel 148 – Bottle 90
Proof: 129.2
Age: 6 Years
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Single Barrel
Mash: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2 (Estimated around 15% Rye)
Website: Buffalo Trace Distillery
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: It comes as no surprise that there’s some ethanol heat on the nose, but less than what I would anticipate a almost 130 proof would deliver. Spice upfront with Cinnamon and Nutmeg followed by Rye Spice and a subtle hint of Sweet notes Vanilla Custard and Caramel. Almost reminds me of a cinnamon roll.
Taste/Palate: I was expecting a solid punch in the face based on what I knew about the proof and what was coming forward from the nose, to my surprise this is tame for 129 proof. In the Blanton’s blind head to head test I did pick this one right, but it wasn’t as obvious as I imagined it would have been. There’s ethanol heat that starts you out. Spice Follows – Cinnamon and Rye. In the midpalate there’s a transition to sweeter notes Creamy Caramel and Vanilla.
Finish: The ethanol sticks around on the finish and so does the spice. The sweeter notes from the palate fade away and I did pick up some subtle mature notes – Oak, Tobacco, and Barrel Char on the finale with a little Citrus Zest.
Verdict: If you are paying secondary prices (which I don’t recommend) this one would be your best bang for the buck. Takara Black & Red, Euro Green & Gold, and Straight from the Barrel are all around the same secondary price. I love the straight from the barrel concept. It’s like you are there at the distillery and tapping right into the source. Its not watered down or blended, this is what that particular barrel delivers. If I want to tone it down I can put a couple drops of water in (Which I did following the review – that are always done neat) and it presents a different flavor profile. For this particular pour a couple drops of water seemed to bring out more of the mature notes of Oak and Tobacco since the ethanol was muted a bit.
Price Ceiling (The Most I’d pay for this bottle): $150-$200
The Story: It took me a while to amass the entire “standard” collection to do this head to head (times 7) review. I even had to borrow the bottle of Takara Gold on loan from a friend. After finally getting all 7 in my collection I had the wife put all 7 in random order for a blind tasting. I took my tasting notes on each as I went and I ranked them all prior to revealing which one was which. After I release all 7 reviews I’ll do one final write up that consolidates all 7. I can say that there were some surprises in the results, but nothing too crazy.
If you know anything about Bourbon I’m sure that that Blanton’s name is not new to you. What might come as a surprise is the different variations of Blanton’s that go across the pond that never see the light of day in the US. Here’s a breakdown of what I reviewed in the 7 Bottle Blanton’s Showdown. (All are Single Barrel)
– Japan – Blanton’s Gold – 103 Proof (Aged 8 Years)
– Europe– Blanton’s Special Reserve – 80 Proof (Aged 6 Years)
– United States – Blanton’s – 93 Proof
– Japan – Blanton’s Black – 80 Proof (Aged 8 years)
– Europe – Blanton’s Gold – 103 Proof (Aged 6 Years)
– United States – Blanton’s Straight From the Barrel – 129.2 Proof (Aged 6 Years)
– Japan – Blanton’s “Red” (Label looks cream color, but the box is red) – 93 Proof (Aged 8 Years
Blanton’s Straight From the Barrel first debuted overseas and within the last couple of years it’s a very rare option to find here in the states. Now in the US you can find the Standard Blanton’s option, Blanton’s Gold (103) proof, and Straight from the Barrel (Proof varies). It’s refreshing
The Distillery’s Story: “Named after former distillery president Colonel Albert B. Blanton, who always had very special supply of bourbon – his private reserve – handpicked and stored in legendary famous Warehouse H. The Blanton’s brand was launched in 1984 when Elmer T. Lee introduced the world to Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon a year before he retired. In doing so, he revolutionized the industry with the world’s first single barrel bourbon.”
Blanton’s is one of the highly sought after lines coming out of Buffalo Trace Distillery. Other high demand brands coming out of Buffalo Trace are Eagle Rare, Sazerac, Weller, E.H. Taylor, The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Pappy Van Winkle, Old Carter, Elmer T Lee, & George T Stagg. Even the standard line of Buffalo Trace and their Bourbon Cream are hard to come by. Buffalo Trace pumps out a lot of high quality bourbon at usually a more than fair MSRP.
For Blanton’s specifically I asked myself the question “Why the heck does Japan get all the 8 year Blanton’s? Why does Poland have a special Blue label Blanton’s (Not included in the head to head)? Up until 2020 the United States, the only country that can produce bourbon had only one variation of Blanton’s. That was the Standard Tan Label, 93 Proof aged 6 years. In 2020 Blanton’s released on a very limited supply, Blanton’s Gold 103 Proof and Blanton Straight from the Barrel in the US. Both are 6 year offerings though. So once again, why is Europe and Japan getting all these variations on proof and extra age?
I went down a bit of a rabbit hole, but here’s what I found out. Blanton’s is distilled with Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2. This Mash bill is said to be the “high rye” at around 15%. In my opinion that’s not “high rye” but at Buffalo Trace it is. Anywho, It’s said that Ancient Age actually owns that Mash Bill and has ties back to Japan. The older “good stuff” is sent oversees to Europe and Japan and here in the US we are left with the one variation. In 2020 that did change slightly when the US added on a very limited supply the Blanton’s Gold and Straight from the Barrel. I’m not sure if there was a change of heart here in the us, a change in ownership, or what, but it’s good to see. From what I hear Blanton’s is well liked in Europe and in Japan, but not like it is here. It’s much easier to find on the shelf and you don’t have to sell your first born to get it.
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Average. Not bad, but not special.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Reviewer: David S
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