* My bottle: Dumped on 9/6/16 from barrel no. 116, warehouse H, rick no. 17. Bottle no. 252" 51.5% abv. Nose: The first impression is oak in many guises - charred barrel, new oak panelling, my grandmother's polished oak dresser. Then leather (a new leather couch) and the aroma of a fine cigar. Arising like a mist from this oaken grove there are aromas of vanilla, apricot liqueur, clove oil and cinnamon. I close my eyes and imagine standing on a wooded hill watching the sunset over rolling fields of wheat at the end of a hot day. Vibrantly autumnal, and surprisingly after a while you realize that it is actually a very cereal-forward nose. (The dry-glass nose is strongly sandalwood). Palate: A woody, dry and almost astringent arrival that is at the very edge of being too forceful, but never quite steps over the line. Exquisite management of the rye component! This is followed by a remarkably measured and complex development with diverse sweet notes seeming to flow into the liquid instead of arising from it. A very cohesive palate that is an absolute joy to taste, and so richly textured it is almost oily. More rich oak, mocha coffee, hazelnuts, pecan nuts, dark warm spices (ginger, cinnamon, clove), liquorice, dried figs and dried apricots, a touch of very dark, strong honey, freshly ground white pepper, menthol, a delightful herby note (mint? sage?) and some faint orange and mango fruit juice hints scurrying about. Finish: Medium-long and multifaceted. First the robust and captivating sweeter flavours from the palate fade to a toffee/caramel finish, then the more subtle notes take over and continue into a much longer finish with a tobacco, liquorice and spice finale. For my first review of 2018 I thought I'd turn to something more upmarket than the somewhat quotidian rums I've been tasting lately, and Blanton's Gold most certainly did not disappoint. Do not add water to this whiskey! It just blurs everything, highlights the spices too much and raises a bitter note in the finish that is undetectable when neat. It ruins the whiskey. Besides which, it is unnecessary. Blanton’s Gold is smooth, cultivated, refined and intended for neat sipping. You know you are drinking something stronger than 80 proof, but at no time is there a trace of burn or pummeling of the nose or tastebuds. Overall - stunning. Poised, magisterial, serene, complex, but approachable. Pour a good sized dram of this and ponder it for at least an hour with no distractions other than some good music. I'd recommend Beethoven or Mahler. Blanton's Original is a very fine dram, but this is outstanding, particularly at what is comparatively a bargain-basement price! It's not just one of the best bourbons I've tasted, it's one of the best whisk(e)ys I've tasted. This is the Springbank 21, the GlenDronach 18 Allardice, or maybe the Dalmore Cigar Malt of bourbons. “Excellent” : 88/100 (4.5 stars)