Blanton's occupies a peculiar position in whiskey. It was the world's first commercially marketed single barrel bourbon — Colonel Albert Blanton selected it from what is now Buffalo Trace in 1984 — and yet its fame has been amplified less by what is in the bottle than by the difficulty of finding one. The Gold Edition, bottled at a higher proof than the Original, was designed for travel retail and export markets, which means it is often easier to find in London or Tokyo than in Louisville.
The specification is simple: single barrel, from the legendary Warehouse H at Buffalo Trace, bottled at 51.5% ABV. No age statement, though the juice is generally believed to sit around six to eight years. The higher proof compared to the Original (46.5%) gives the spirit more room to express itself, and the difference is immediately apparent.
The nose leads with spicy rye and tobacco, followed by caramel, honey, dark fruit, and sun-dried orange peel. There is a vanilla warmth throughout that is unmistakably Buffalo Trace. The palate is rich and layered: toasted oak, fudge, cinnamon, chocolate-covered orange, a flicker of Sichuan pepper, cherry, and honey. The higher proof lends a drier mouthfeel than the Original, with more structure and grip.
The finish is very long — crème brûlée, vanilla, chocolate shavings — and the extra ABV carries it further than the Original's gentle fade. Whether Blanton's deserves the hype is a debate for another day, but the Gold Edition is unquestionably the better whiskey of the two. If you can find one, buy it.
