Bourbon Review · Blanton's
Blanton's Original Single Barrel
The World's First Commercial Single Barrel Bourbon
⚑ Placeholder review — tasting notes to be updated after the pour.
The Story
Blanton's Original holds the distinction of being the world's first commercially released single barrel bourbon — introduced in 1984, when the concept of bottling from a single barrel was genuinely novel. Stored in Warehouse H at Buffalo Trace, each barrel is selected by master distillers and bottled at 93 proof. The iconic bottle with the horse-and-jockey stopper has become one of the most recognizable shapes in whiskey, and collecting all eight different stopper letters to spell B-L-A-N-T-O-N-S is a hobby that's consumed more than a few bourbon enthusiasts. The whiskey inside lives up to the packaging.
Nose, Palate & Finish
Nose
Classic Buffalo Trace on the nose — orange blossom, caramel, vanilla, and a pleasant toasted grain character. There's a light, honeyed sweetness and a mild citrus note that makes it particularly inviting. Each barrel varies, but the house style is consistent.
Palate
Medium body, smooth, and approachable. Caramel and vanilla anchor the sweetness with supporting notes of dried fruit, citrus, and a gentle oak structure. The single barrel character shows in small ways — some bottles are more fruit-forward, others more oak-driven, but the overall profile is reliably pleasant.
Finish
Medium length, warm, and lightly spiced. Vanilla and oak carry through with a clean finish. Not the most complex exit but satisfying.