Oh I have been waiting a long long time to try this one. Its no secret that Blantons Single Barrel is my favorite bourbon of all time but not having tasted any of the rarer selections, I was eager to try one of the most special bottlings: Blanton's Gold. This bottle I procured was in 700 ML Size, indicating it was an import from the European market ( or so I have been told ). On the nose is a dark pitted fruit like over ripened cherries mixed with raisins. There is a bit of citrusy twang with a light sprinkling of something slightly woody and grassy. Maybe a little sawdust sprinkled on some hay? The taste begins sweet enough with vanilla and thick creamy honey. And then, mid taste... what is this? Some peppery spice! Unexpected if all you've tasted is Blanton's Single Barrel. The finish starts with hints of rye, typically not my favorite taste profile but its faint enough in Blanton's Gold that it isn't offensive. The dry heat and peppery spice stay in your mouth for the long, oily finish. But as this spice fades away a slightly bitter and musty leathery quality underlines some sweet honey. MAN this finish is long lasting and almost another taste within itself. Can bourbon get any deeper, more complex and more expressive than Blanton's Gold? Not that I've tasted. That said, expect more spice and heat than you may be used to from Blanton's Single Barrel. The remarkable thing is: where other bourbons carrying this quantity of spice are jarring or sometimes unpleasant... Blanton's Gold just isn't. I don't know if this is worth the price premium or the long hunt over good ol' Single Barrel but if you get the opportunity to taste: please do.