Blanton's Gold Edition

It's hard for me to judge bourbans as I'm not a big fan. For the most part they seem a bit same same, shades of the same thing etc. although there are awesome exceptions. Finishing or peating to provide more variety just doesn't seem that prevelant? Anyway rant over. Coming off the back of tasting Springbank 15 it was going to be hard to top that one but this didn't do to badly at all. It definitely exceeded my expectations. Nice rich oak, caramel, toffee, vanilla etc. Alcohol very well integrated for it's strength and especially so for a bourbon. I'd say definitely high 3's and probably the best value for money bourbon I've had at around $60USD so a 4 it is

Strong nose, rich full of toffee, sugar, orchard fruit, soap, some vanilla. On the palate, sharp on the tip of your tongue, sweetness envelops followed by wood notes, warm spice and leather notes at the end. Medium finish, some lingering cacao nibs. Just the right amount of heat. Towards the end of my glass I started to detect some nuttiness, a flavor profile I greatly enjoy. Nicely done. I can see how for some, this will be right in their wheelhouse. For now, I think I prefer the relative smoothness of the regular Single Barrel, or the intense explosion of the SFTB; the Gold, while a great pour, seems to have some strengths of both but not quite fully, so in a way it's neither here nor there. Don't get me wrong, this is worth seeking out, but I strongly prefer the SFTB and I think the regular Single Barrel is solid on its own right. 5/3/17 Still delicious. 6/14/17