Rating 3.5 Glasses

Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Years Aged: 6-8
Proof: 93
Local Price (USD): $59.95
Availability: Widespread

Tasting Notes

Color & Consistency: Straw honey with medium legs
Nose: Caramel Apple Pops and Josh screaming “I smell prunes! I smell prunes!”. Lime with a little corn, a little oak and caramel to round it out.
Taste: Oak and dark charred sweetness of brown sugar that has been left on the stove just a bit too long.
Finish: Light oak and vanilla that wants to stay for a while. Somewhere in between your brother-in-law jetting out before the end of the 1st quarter because your sister gave him a 7:37pm curfew and your great uncle just hanging around long after the final buzzer, watching re-runs of The Price Is Right and reciting for the 26th time the story about how he was “that close” to making it on the show.
Conclusion: Introduced in 1984 by Elmer T. Lee to honor Albert B. Blanton, former master distiller of George T. Stagg distilllery (previous name of Buffalo Trace Distillery). Blanton’s was the first single barrel bourbon sold commercially and interestingly enough, the mash bill #2 used to produce Blanton’s is the same one used in Elmer T. Lee Bourbon. Unfortunately we can only get the 93 proof variety here in the States but there are higher ABV offerings exported that if one could get a hold of would be worth it.

We feel Blanton’s is a bit like Lil’ Sweet from the Diet Dr. Pepper Commercials with some vanilla, citrus and oak sprinkled on top. A good single barrel bourbon just not quite elevated enough to hang with other newer, higher proof and just plain better offerings in its price range.
Even being slightly overpriced, Blanton’s makes a great gift as the bottle is truly unique and the toppers are even more unique with 8 completely different caricatures available of a jockey riding a horse.
3.5 glasses from us but go grab a bottle, give it a pour and make your own determination. ↓