Review #693 - Blanton's Straight From The Barrel
Like the standard Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon, this 'Straight From The Barrel' (SFTB) version is aged in warehouse H at Buffalo Trace. While Blanton's is typically proofed down to 46.5% ABV (93 proof), this SFTB bourbon is bottled at barrel proof, and it isn't chill filtered - we get the full experience, as if we were taking a sample from the barrel in the rickhouse. In this case, that barrel proof strength is 64.4% ABV (128.8 proof).
Blanton's bourbon is made using Buffalo Trace's 'high-rye' mashbill, though in the scheme of bourbon mashbills, this wouldn't really be considered a high rye content; the actual proportion of rye grain isn't publicly disclosed, but it's often speculated to be between 10% and 15%.
Blanton's Straight From The Barrel
USA - Bourbon
MSRP: USD 150 (2024)
Available Price: USD 225 (2025, based on recent auction results)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 64.4% ABV
Details: Not chill filtered; warehouse H, rick no. 49, barrel 246; dumped on August 1, 2024
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 2 months from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Leathery oak and plenty of fruit - it's a bit like a grape Jolly Rancher wrapped in old leather. Strawberry, orange, and grape gummies candies build, and we also find a darker fruit like plum at times; there are hints of chocolate, cinnamon, and refined sugar. It leans relatively sweet, and we get nice dusty vanilla notes and a hint of sweet grain.
Palate: Juicy, dark, and syrupy - this is quite sweet, with blackberry jam, blackcurrant, grapes, and orange. Baking notes of caramel, bruleed sugar, and cinnamon build over time; there's a bit of wood spice and tannins, but the oak flavor isn't too strong in general. Later, we get a bit more tobacco on the back of the palate; it's a medium-thick mouthfeel.
Finish: Tons of blackberry jam, a bit more leathery oak, and some classic baking notes like cinnamon roll and brown sugar. Sharp pepper and tannins add a kick, and like the palate, a subtle tobacco note is found in the background. The finish has a medium length.
Final Note: This Blanton's Straight From The Barrel is tasty - very fruity, at least according to our experience with this single barrel. Buffalo Trace bourbons are often known for their red fruit or dark fruit influence, but this was one of the most fruit-forward examples that we've tried personally. Lots of red fruit, orange, and dark purple fruit; on the other side, there is a nice baking spice element coming from the cinnamon and sugar notes. It is definitely a sweet bourbon, with just a bit of wood spice or bitterness arriving on the back end.
This is a great bourbon, but it also comes at a cost; the suggested retail price from Buffalo Trace seems to be somewhere around $150 or so (it's hard to find a definitive answer), and secondary prices are closer to $200 or $250. That's asking a lot of a non-age-stated bourbon, and while we do like this bottle, we think the value isn't particularly good.
Our Average Rating: 7.9 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating (MSRP): 5.95
Value Rating (Available Price): 5.20
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
