Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon has a storied history that dates back to the early days of bourbon craftsmanship. The brand was established in 1984 by Elmer T. Lee, then Master Distiller at the George T. Stagg Distillery (now Buffalo Trace Distillery). Blanton’s is named after Colonel Albert B. Blanton, a long-time distillery president who was known for his high standards and dedication to producing quality bourbon. Colonel Blanton had a tradition of selecting what he considered the best barrels from the center of Warehouse H, a rickhouse known for its superior aging conditions, to be bottled for his own private reserve and for special guests. Inspired by this practice, Elmer T. Lee introduced Blanton’s as the world’s first single barrel bourbon, setting a new standard in the industry for premium, handcrafted bourbon.
The creation of Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon involves meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail. Each bottle is drawn from a single barrel, meaning no two bottles are exactly alike. The barrels selected for Blanton’s are aged in Warehouse H, a metal-clad rickhouse that allows for significant temperature fluctuations, which in turn enhances the interaction between the whiskey and the oak barrels. This process imparts a unique flavor profile to each barrel, characterized by a rich combination of vanilla, caramel, and spices, along with subtle nuances that vary from barrel to barrel. Once a barrel reaches its peak maturity, it is hand-bottled, labeled, and topped with the iconic horse and jockey stopper, symbolizing the brand’s commitment to quality and tradition.
Comparing Blanton’s Single Barrels No. 366, 466, 676, and 755
Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon is renowned for its consistency in quality and its distinctive flavor profiles. However, as a single barrel product, each barrel can impart unique characteristics to the bourbon, making each bottle a singular experience. In this review, we’ll explore if there are noticeable differences among four different Blanton’s barrels—Barrels No. 366, 466, 676, and 755—focusing on their distinct notes on the nose and palate to see just how much if any difference exists among them.
To not bury the lead, there were noticeable differences among the 4 barrels.
Although the similarities were much greater. The 4 barrels contained the expected overall sweet aroma and included notes of honey, vanilla, caramel, and spice. However, on the nose some barrel’s had a more prominent oak aroma while others had a greater sweet/sugar note, with one having a more prominent floral note than the others.
Similarly, on the palate, the sweet and sugary notes that are common with Blanton’s came through in this tasting. Blanton’s has a classic bourbon flavor profile but each barrel had subtle differences in sweetness and oakiness, with one having a pear note. The rye spice was present on each but to differing degrees.
Conclusion
Blanton’s is an enjoyable, classic bourbon profile. The differences among these four Blanton’s barrels highlight the fun and variability of single-barrel bourbons. These variations demonstrate that while Blanton’s maintains a consistent level of quality, the individual character of each barrel can influence the tasting experience. This makes exploring different Blanton’s barrels an exciting and rewarding experience.
