While acknowledging that there are differences in barrels and I may have just gotten a mediocre one… I just do not see why Blanton’s has such a following. It’s just very ordinary bourbon. Color: like a strong herbal tea with honey Nose: Ethanol. Lots of ethanol. After about 5 minutes of sitting, you can start to smell buttered corn and honey. First sip neat: Ethanol and the burn of red hots. Once again, 5 minutes cools this off. The red hots are still present, but so are notes of baking spices and vanilla. Adding water adds a little sweetness. Mouthfeel is oily, finish is medium. The spice lingers longer than the taste. Slight hint of something minty on the finish. All in all, it’s not worth the price being paid for it. It has a lovely bottle, but there are far better bourbons, especially at the marked-up prices.