I got my first bottle of Blantons through a special release at my local Liquor Mart in Manitoba, Canada. I know there is a lot of hype around this bottle, so I entered with some skepticism. After opening the bottle, which is unique from the rest on my shelf, I was impressed. The nose is rich and sweet with deep, whole notes. I got vanilla, brown sugar, maple syrup, and an oak baseline. Everything on the nose was pleasant. I sometimes get dusty grain notes on bourbon, but it wasn’t present on this dram. The notes on the nose continue into the palette. Rich and full with some good spice. I love the spice, so that was a pleasant surprise. I even got some chocolate truffle along with a sweet corn syrup taste. The finish is warm and smooth with a lingering sweetness. Not long, but not short. Overall, I think it lives up to the hype for me. It is my favourite bourbon to date. If available, this is a bourbon I would have on my shelf all the time. 9/10