Day 25 of DB's Bourbon Trail 2024 Advent Calendar - Blanton's

Derek Burkhard
Oct 30, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Dec 25, 2024

Cheers and welcome to our 5th Annual Advent Calendar!

This month, we’re embarking on a high-end bourbon journey, reviewing 25 bourbons from award-winning distilleries across the United States. From December 1st to December 25th, we’ll explore everything from small batches to single barrels, all packed with flavor. Join us in toasting to another incredible year as we share some of our favorite bottles with you!

Our reviews are done using a Glencairn glass and neat, but remember, it’s your bourbon! Enjoy it however you like—over ice, with water, or in a cocktail. The key is to enjoy it your way and not let others influence your experience.

Enough of me rambling. Now, let’s dive into what brought us here!

Day 25 of DB’s Bourbon Trail 2024 Advent Calendar

BLANTON’S - THE ORIGINAL SINGLE BARREL BOURBON WHISKEY

Proof:

93 Proof (46.5%)

Distillery:

Buffalo Trace Distillery (Frankfort, KY)

Message on the bottle:

"The finest bourbon in the world comes from a single barrel - never blended with whiskey from any other barrel. Bourbon's peak maturity varies from barrel to barrel and only a Master Distiller can determine the exact moment the whiskey has been aged to perfection and deemed worthy of the Blanton's label. Which means, no barrel of Blanton's is ready until it's truly ready.

Colonel Albert B. Blanton's time-honored tradition lives on today through the handful of barrels from the center of Warehouse H that are selected to become Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon. This sour mash bourbon whiskey has body, bouquet and character unrivaled by any other. This is "The Original Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey."

"We believe this is the finest whiskey ever produced, affording you extra flavor, bouquet and character"

"Stored in Warehouse H. Individually selected, filtered, and bottled by hand at 93 Proof"

Price Point:

At DB’s Bourbon Trail, we use BoozApp (not sponsored) to ensure fair pricing on our bourbon purchases. Nothing is worse than overpaying due to supply and demand games.
- Average MSRP:
  - $59.99
- Fair Price:
  - $106.99
- Shelf Price:
  - $139.86
- DB’s Bourbon Trail Instant Buy Price:
  - <$79.99

Review:

We made it! 25 bourbons in 25 days!

First, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

We are in for a treat today - The Original Single Barrel that we have all came to love and enjoy!

Taken from the center-cut or middle sections of the famous Warehouse H, Blanton’s Original Single Barrel was once designated for ambassadors, dignitaries, and Colonel Blanton’s family and friends. Today, everyone has access to the world’s first single barrel bourbon. The taste profile is sweet, with notes of citrus and oak. The creamy vanilla nose is teased with caramel and butterscotch, all underscored by familiar baking spices such as clove, nutmeg, or cinnamon. Blanton’s Original set the standard for single barrel bourbons in 1984. Best served neat or on the rocks. Bottled at 46.5% alcohol by volume.

Sounds pretty spot on and delicious! Let's dive into what's in the glass.

Nose:

This bourbon offers an inviting aroma, perfectly balancing regular bourbon notes of vanilla and caramel. Subtle hints of orange peel add a refreshing twist to its classic profile.

Palate:

This bourbon delivers on the flavors you'd expect from a classic pour. It's exceptionally smooth and easy to sip, making it a delightful choice for both newcomers and seasoned bourbon drinkers. The palate is rich with notes of caramel and brown sugar, providing a sweet pour. Vanilla and hints of oak bring a subtle but great depth to its profile.

Finish:

With the pour being at 93 proof, there is not much bite with this finish, allowing it to be incredibly smooth. It’s medium in length and sweeter than most pours that you will come across. Caramel and vanilla take us home as we finish our 25 Days of Christmas!

Final Thoughts:

An iconic story and one of the best bottle presentations out there - Blanton's really knows how to set the bar high. To "top it off" - each bottle of Blanton’s has a topper with a letter on it for us to collect and spell out Blanton’s. Talk about some marketing geniuses!

Blanton's always offers a solid pour that is a perfect mix of vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar. I love Blanton’s and will always buy at MSRP. It definitely isn't the easiest to find and is probably every Liqours store worst nightmare - but we love Buffalo Trace for it!

From the buttom of our hearts, I really appreciate you all following along the last 25 days and hope that you all enjoyed! It means the world to us to be able to share a pour and memories with you during the holiday season!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Cheers y’all! 🥃

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