Warning: This meanders too long and I apologize for that. I still feel the need to document it all for my own sake and future reference. I have to explain two things before going into my notes on this bourbon. First this is a tasting I did about three months ago, so I am going on memory. However, my memory is very good due to the fact that I sought this bourbon out for about two years. Yes, it has been that difficult for me to find. Second, I am very angry with myself for going through the bottle so fast and not allowing it to sit for awhile to open up. I had it before I knew the value in that - not long ago when I would buy a bottle and drink it until it was gone rather than building up a collection and enjoying multiple bourbons little by little. Before I was participating on distiller and learning about whiskies. In all honesty, back then my focus was mostly only on bourbon and I had no idea how much I enjoyed rye, Irish whisky and others. Basically I shared the bottle with family which is wonderful, it was a delight and we all enjoyed both the bourbon and sharing the bottle. However, we could have all enjoyed another good bourbon and I could have been more sparing with this one. So I found myself in another town (visiting family) and we ended up at a wonderful liquor store. We grabbed some good beers and walked up to the counter to pay. Now remember, I had been scouring my local area for two years for this gem. Nothing. As we are standing at the counter waiting to pay I hear (vaguely) someone say Blanton's who was at the next register. Lo and behold they were placing 2 bottles- the only two in the store - on the counter to be sold to some lucky people. Allocated bottles only one per customer. I could have knocked people down getting to that holy grail! I snagged my beloved bottle of Blanton's in disbelief of what was actually happening with a huge grin on my face. I practically hugged it all the way back to the house, giddy and excited to open that baby right up and share my joy with all. I think that is the best part about whisky, the sharing, the discussion, especially when your family largely are fans of, in this case, bourbon. I could not contain my excitement to try it and share it with people who would understand my joy and appreciate it with me. Sorry for the long opening... the notes... Nose: Strong alcohol aroma, very strong. Caramel, honey, vanilla peek through with a slight smokiness. Memory serves to note that these aromas did not present immediately and the pour had to sit for a few minutes to discover them. Allowing it to sit longer brought out some buttery aromas. Mouthfeel: Creamy and full, quite lovely but there is a burn that sort of distracts from that. Flavor: Once you get past that burn of red hots, the kind of burn that makes you open your mouth and release a stream of air, the flavor is quite enjoyable with a lingering oily texture. It has all the usual suspects from caramel to vanilla to creamy buttery corn. Slight tastes of dark fruit, blackberry perhaps but just too slight for me. Would appreciate a bit more complexity for something I waited so long for and that gets so much hype. That is all I recall from this tasting and again, I was not quite at a level of truly appreciating or noticing the subtle nuances at that time. If I had been I probably would have had the forethought to hold back a little for sampling at a later time. I do realize that this is not the heftiest price for a bourbon and these days I drop 55.00 fairly easily on whisky. However back then, just a few months ago, I thought that was a high price. Yes, you can all laugh at me its fine. I laugh at myself too. The thing is, Blanton's was so hyped up, and so hard to find, that I thought I was getting a STEAL at 55.00. The only other way I could have ever found to try it was at one bar locally, for 25.00 for a one ounce pour, which I just simply could never bring myself to do. I am glad that I didn't too! The thing is - it is good. Quite good. It is not however the holy grail I thought it would be. Would I love to get my hands on it again to be sure? Absolutely! I would also give it time in the bottle after an initial pour and do several tastings over time. I also do realize each batch can be different so perhaps the bottle I got was not as good as others. Hard to know. What I am more or less let down by is for as allocated as it is, I sort of feel that it's become more of a cult classic than a really well made movie, I mean bourbon. I would need far more quality dialogue in the pour to feel it deserved its dedicated following. I never really loved cult classic movies either. Anyway, I should probably end with these final thoughts. Would I buy it again for around fifty bucks, sure! I kept the gorgeous bottle and yes, it is simply beautiful. I would not mind collecting the entire set of pewter tops. Mostly due to being a horse lover. It is absolutely worth what I paid but I no longer feel I got a "steal of a deal" on the pricing. In fact, I am thankful to the place I bought if from that they did not over hype it and mark it up more. They could have with as rare of a find it is around here. I am curious if it is as hard to find other places or if it is just the midwest. I have had better, I have had worse. I want to give it more than a 3 but unless I were to try it again after more experience with whisky I just can't in all fairness. I will say however it hurts to rate it 3. Bah, I will give it a 3.5 - its not Blanton's fault I went through the bottle too fast or that I was not as experienced. Plus I am doing this from memory. Also however, in fairness to my notes, I have to say if it were that amazing - after my long search for it, one would think I would be giving it rave reviews. Ratings have nothing to do with cost - just my impressions. Even thought I have mentioned price many times in this tasting.