![]() Blanton’s is a bourbon that the three of us have enjoyed for many years and with Brad and Andy not aware what it was, I was very excited to see if they recognized it. The Blanton’s Single Barrel I opened for this tasting was dumped in 2015 and was a private barrel pick. We tasted all four bourbons in the order listed below and took notes before discussing them with each other. All of that plus the name earned it a spot in the lineup. Though RHF is not stored at Warehouse H, it does share the same mash bill as the others, is similar in proof to the Blanton’s Gold, and is considerably less expensive. We were going to declare a winner.īuffalo Trace also released Rock Hill Farms Single Barrel (RHF) in 1990, named after Albert Blanton’s home. In our blind test, neither Andy nor Brad could be influenced by any outside bias, and I would serve as the third judge to break any tie between them. I even took an online poll and discovered that each had several fans with very strong preferences for one over the other. Blanton’s Straight From the Barrel (SFTB). The main event of the evening was clearly Blanton’s Gold vs. The three of us have been drinking a lot of cask strength whiskeys over the past few years, and that should be noted as you consider our tasting notes. I also participated because, you know, research. Two of my dependable whiskey friends, Andy Ruback and Brad Curtis, came over without knowing what they were going to be tasting or why. I’ve been a huge fan of blind tasting, and Blake’s post last year on got me into it. Given the lively debate on which of the Blanton’s is the best, I set up a blind tasting so they could all battle it out. ![]() That may help to explain the strong international presence. Lee), despite their being distilled and aged at Buffalo Trace. This is notable because none of the Blanton’s bottles list an age statement.Īnother fact you may be unaware of: Japanese manufacturer Takara Shuzo owns all of the Age International brands (including Ancient Age, Blanton’s and Elmer T. These swings force the whiskey in and out of the barrel at a greater rate, aging the whiskey quicker. It is the only warehouse at Buffalo Trace that has metal cladding on the exterior walls instead of brick, creating wider temperature swings. Warehouse H is reserved solely for Blanton’s. Lee, all the Blanton’s are created from Buffalo Trace Mash Bill 2 (Higher Rye 12-15%), are distilled to 140 proof, put into barrels at 125 proof and aged in Blanton’s favorite Warehouse H. Without a doubt, the two most intriguing of the international releases has been the Blanton’s Gold (103 proof) and the Blanton’s Straight From the Barrel (proof varies by bottle, but around 130 proof).Īlong with the single barrel named to honor Elmer T. Those single barrels were bottled as a private reserve bourbon for ambassadors, dignitaries and those especially close to him.Īs it has continued to earn international awards since its inception, The original 93 proof Blanton’s has been released in different iterations outside the United States, including Blanton’s Special Reserve (“Green”) and Blanton’s Black, both at a lower 80 proof. Stagg Distillery (now Buffalo Trace), where he believed the best aging occurred. Blanton aged single barrels in Warehouse H of the George T. In 1984, Lee launched the now-legendary Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon by following the blueprint of its namesake. Blanton and the young man he told to take a hike in 1949 was Elmer T. ![]() Imagine being told, “Son we’re not hiring any hands today,” at your job interview and then 35 years later honoring the same man that turned you down by naming the world’s first single barrel bourbon after him.
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