Blanton's - Takara Red (Japan) - 93 Proof
MSRP $100
Blanton’s – Takara Red (Japan) – 93 Proof
Barrel Information: Dumped 5/14/21 – Warehouse H – Rick No 32 – Barrel 109 – Bottle 124
Proof: 93
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
It’s important to note that all Blanton’s are single barrel and one batch can taste completely different from the next. I could have 7 different bottles from this line up and the rankings could end up different, but that’s always a risk with Single Barrel anything.
Nose: Sweet and Rich with a slight nose of Wet Cardboard. Butterscotch, Vanilla, and Dark Cherry, & Pine Nut. The nose finishes with mild Rye Spice, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Tobacco, and Wet Oak.
Taste/Palate: Starts out a little flat then ethanol hits pretty quick on the palate. It’s not overwhelming, but less subtle than some of the other Blanton’s being reviewed even with higher proofs. Following the ethanol you get charred oak, Rye Spice, Apple Cider & Cinnamon. In the midpalate the sweetness from the nose shows back up with Carmel and Vanilla.
Finish: The Spice noticeably lingers in the background and stays on the mouth combined with Caramel Chew. The Sweetness slowly fades away and you’re left with some of the more oaky notes to combine with the Rye Spice and Cinnamon.
Verdict: It’s said that Takara Blanton’s variations are aged for 2 extra years for at least 8 years. This bottle had some good characteristics but it was a little rough around the edges and didn’t all meld together as well as it could. If someone offered me this pour I wouldn’t turn it down. It’s a nice shelf trophy with a story about how it started in US, went to Japan, and somehow ended up on your shelf, but I don’t believe it’s worth the secondary price. At least this barrel wasn’t.
Price Ceiling (The Most I’d pay for this bottle): $100-150 (Current secondary market is around $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 possession 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 “Red” has a cream color label that’s lighter than standard Blanton’s which is more tan. At first glance it could easily be mistaken for Standard US Blanton’s. There’s also Japanese writing on the Takara Red 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. So why is it called Takara “Red”? The box is red. Simple as that. I guess that’s easier than calling it Blanton’s Cream or Off-White…
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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