Tastes

Appearance: Auburn color, fast, thick legs Nose: Light caramel (almost more brown sugar like) and sourdough bread. Slight cherry or sweet fruit aroma as well. Palate: There's a definite astringentness to it that is a little hard to get past and get other flavors. I think this comes from the 70% of the makeup being from 4 year old juice. But getting past that, it's thin and not a lot of mouthfeel - a little coating on the tip of the tongue and the front of the roof of the mouth, but that's about it. Honey and a sweet cherry pop out at me first. There's a light, sweet oak flavor. Some spice in there - not really like a baking spice to me, but just more of the spice you get from a rye whiskey. Finish: There's a toasty/smokiness that lingers a little (To be fair, I had smoked brisket about an hour and half previous to this sip, and I can't decide if that is either *enhancing* that profile in the bourbon, or if it's actually just lingering from earlier. I hadn't noticed it the previous few times I've sipped from this bottle though.) A sweet oak lingers as well. A very mild hug going down, if not at all. Rating: 4.7/10 on t8ke scale Overall: low flavor, high astringentness, light hug and finish.

Appearance: Honey/Copper. Beautiful beads in glass and has thick, but fast, legs. Smell: I get an immediate scent of orange and vanilla. Almost like a dreamsicle but interrupted with a slight tingle from the astringentness of the alcohol. There is a sweetness at the back end of the aroma. It's kind of a scent of burnt, white sugar... there's a hominess to it. Palette: Bitter caramel sweetness. There's a citrus profile, but not as strong as in the aroma. An oiliness lingers for a while, but by the third swallow after the sip, the mouth feel is gone. There is an oakiness, but it doesn't overpower the other flavors on the palette. There's a slight rye spice, but it doesn't come across harshly, or even noticeable, but it's there when you intentionally think about it. There is an accompaniment of vanilla that sits and lingers throughout the experience. Finish: The oakiness is what far outlasts all other flavors. There's very little burn in the throat and chest (not much of a Kentucky hug), but there is a slight sting that lingers on the back of the tongue. Overall: It's not mind-blowing, or even memorable, but it's not awful by any regards. I think it's more the...nostalgia?...scarcity?...novelty?...of having Blanton's in your own possession that makes the experience. It's a solid sipper but there's way more complex sippers for the price. But it's a solid bourbon, not too complex, but most excellent for sharing with company. Sharing a pour with good friends...I think that's what this bourbon is all about. And that's how memories of this are made best, I think.