Blanton's - Takara Black (Japan) - 80 Proof
$65
Blanton’s – Takara Black (Japan) – 80 Proof
Barrel Info: Dumped 5/20/21 – Warehouse H – Rick No 16 – Barrel 33 – Bottle 22
Proof: 80
Age: 8 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: Sweet, even for a Blanton’s. Caramel Chew, Mild Vanilla, Rye Spice & Cinnamon.
Taste/Palate: This tasted very muted even for a 80 proof. Flat Diet Coke is what the overall taste profile gives off. Brown Sugar, Sweet Cherry, Vanilla, Cinnamon and some Mild Rye Spice.
Finish: Cola after taste with mild alcohol presence. Cherries again and Sassafras.
Verdict: I was let down by this one. It could just be this specific barrel and I know it’s 80 proof and that it has been proofed down a lot and that takes away from the flavors, but I figured given this is supposed to have a couple extra years in the barrel some more mature notes would come through. It’s average, but if I were factoring in value on this it would be below 5 on the overall scale. The let down is mostly due to the secondary price and hype of these bottles. It would be a good bourbon to try neat for the first time or introduce to someone who isn’t a bourbon junkie.
Price Ceiling (The Most I’d pay for this bottle): $50 because it’s my favorite looking Blanton’s Bottle. $20-25 based on the juice that was inside. (Going on secondary for $200-250).
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 Takara “Black” get’s it’s street name based obviously on the Black Label. I think it’s one of the sharpest looking Blanton’s Bottles. There’s Japanese writing on the Takara Black labels. Under the Blanton’s on the neck label it translates to Whiskey per Google Translate. The back of the neck has many more Japanese symbols which has distillery info and disclaimers. It is said (But never confirmed by Buffalo Trace that I know of) that the Takara Blanton’s are aged for 8 years vs the standard US and Euro versions which sit for 6. I can honestly say that I didn’t notice any glaring difference between the Takara bottles vs the US or Euro counterpart that screamed an extra 2 years.
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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