Buffalo Trace Distillery (Sazerac Company)
Blanton's Original Single Barrel
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey · NAS (estimated 6-9 years)
That iconic horse-topped bottle started the single barrel revolution. But three decades later, is Blanton's still worth the chase—or just the shelf decor?
Rating Breakdown
Flavor Profile
Tasting Journey
Nose
Honeysuckle, vanilla, citrus peel, soft caramel, barrel char, light cinnamon, bubble gum, orange
Palate
Light caramel, honey, vanilla, brown sugar, leather, charred oak, rye spice, pleasant and approachable
Finish
Length: MediumCrisp vanilla, caramel, dry leather, light peppercorn, gentle oak, medium warmth
Specs
Price / Value
MSRP: $55
Your Rating
Click to rate
Our Score: 82/100
Pairings
Food
- Honey-glazed ham
- pecan pralines
- smoked Gouda
- apple crumble
- grilled pork chops
Cocktails
- Old Fashioned
- Bourbon Highball
- Gold Rush
Our Verdict
Blanton's is a solid, well-made single barrel bourbon whose reputation has outgrown its liquid. At MSRP it's a fine bottle. At secondary prices, your money is far better spent elsewhere. Collect the toppers if you must, but drink the alternatives.
Blanton's occupies a fascinating paradox in bourbon culture: it is both the bottle that democratized single barrel bourbon and the one that has come to symbolize everything frustrating about the allocation era. Those collectible horse toppers have adorned more Instagram feeds than Kentucky mantels, and the hunt for Blanton's has become a rite of passage that says more about the hunter than the quarry.
Let's separate the bottle from the bourbon. At its core, Blanton's is a well-made, pleasant single barrel from Buffalo Trace's high-rye Mashbill #2. The nose offers honeysuckle and vanilla, a pleasant citrus peel brightness, and soft caramel notes that invite without overwhelming. It's an approachable aroma—welcoming, almost friendly—which is precisely what made it so popular in the first place.
The palate delivers a classic bourbon profile executed with competence: light caramel, honey, vanilla, brown sugar, and a touch of leather. There's some charred oak and rye spice in the mid-palate that adds structure, but at 93 proof, Blanton's plays it relatively safe. The mouthfeel is pleasant without being particularly viscous, and the flavors, while well-balanced, don't reach for the complexity that modern bourbon drinkers have come to crave.
The finish is crisp and medium-length, with vanilla, caramel, dry leather, and a light peppercorn warmth that fades gracefully. It's a polished close to a polished bourbon—nothing to criticize, nothing to write sonnets about.
Here's our honest assessment: at MSRP ($55), Blanton's is a good bourbon that earns its place on any shelf. The single barrel format means occasional exceptional dumps that genuinely impress. But the secondary market prices ($120-200+) are indefensible when E.H. Taylor, Four Roses Single Barrel, and Wild Turkey Rare Breed offer equal or superior experiences at or near retail. Enjoy the horse toppers. Just don't let them gallop away with your wallet.
