Blanton's

Blanton's is a bourbon from the famous American whiskey-making state of Kentucky. The brand was the pioneer of the single barrel movement that has paved the way for countless others since it first appeared in the 1980s. Its recognisable horse and jockey stoppers, plus the orb shaped bottle, have a cult following amongst memorabilia and whisky collectors alike. And their whiskeys continue to win top awards around the globe.

Blanton's is a robust, waxy and spicy style of bourbon that has a higher rye content than average in its mash bill. It carries a complex set of distinctive notes - green fruit, vanilla, caramel, chocolate, oak spice and citrus.

The most common bottling is Original Single Barrel Bourbon. This is released at 46.5% ABV (93 Proof). There is also the higher strength Gold Edition (51.5% ABV/103 Proof). These are joined by Straight From The Barrel, bottled at the natural strength of each individual cask and unfiltered, and Special Reserve. This is released at 40% ABV (80 Proof) and is exclusive to international markets outside America. All are matured in new American white oak barrels.

Blanton's bourbon is owned by Age International Inc. but distilled under license by the Sazerac Company at their Buffalo Trace distillery. It is located in Frankfort, Kentucky and is produced as a 'high rye bourbon'.

Barrels reserved for Blanton's are matured exclusively in Warehouse H. It is made from metal and has been found to age whiskey differently. The temperature and humidity are more consistent with exterior conditions than in a traditional brick warehouse. This gives a steadier and more predictable interaction between spirit and oak. Warehouse H is the only metal warehouse at Buffalo Trace. The average age of Blanton's is between six and eight years.

Blanton's was the world's first bourbon to be released as a single barrel. It was created by Master Distiller Elmer T. Lee and initially appeared in 1984. He named it after his mentor Colonel Albert B. Blanton. He had hired Lee to work at the distillery, which was then called George T. Stagg distillery, in the 1940s. Blanton was the Distillery President until 1952 and worked there for over 50 years. He later died in 1959.

Blanton taught Lee how to select the best barrels, known as 'honey barrels'. These came from the centre of a specific warehouse - Warehouse H - that had been built by Blanton following Prohibition. Blanton's was one of Lee's final projects before retiring in 1985. The brand is widely regarded as kickstarting the super premium category in the bourbon industry. Lee was inducted to the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2001 and acted as an honourary ambassador for Buffalo Trace until he died in 2013.

Blanton's has become known for its distinctive bottle stoppers since they were first introduced in the late 1990s. This highly collectible set of eight corks celebrates Kentucky's rich heritage of horse racing, which includes the famous Kentucky Derby. Each stopper shows a single letter of the Blanton's name, which spells Blanton's when lined up. Each shows a horse at different stages of a race, with B at start line and S as jockey and horse pass the finishing post.