Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel, bottled June 17, 2016, 63.65% ABV, €65.
- Nose: Sourdough bread, orange peel, vanilla, mud/hay, soft oak.
- Taste: Baking spices, nutmeg, fruit cake/christmas cake, butterscotch, mint.
- Finish: Very long, spicy, HOT.
- Thoughts: Nice and rich, but wow, this delivers a serious hit. Big, bold, and in your face. The spiciness is where it shines. It’s like drinking holiday baked goods that have been shot out of a volcano. Water brings it down a little, but it’s unavoidable. If you like a big bourbon, you will love this. Definitely my favorite Blanton’s. My Mom, aka best-Mom-ever, hunted this for me on her trip to Spain. €65 is incredible value. Why doesn’t Blanton’s sell this in North America? A question every American has asked themselves at least 100 times.
- Score: 89 + 1.5 value point(s) = 90.5/100
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Scores:
After my initial score I add or subtract points relative on how I perceive value (based on what I paid for the bottle). A zero value means I think the price is justified.
0-69.5 – Don’t bother trying, life is too short for bad spirit.
70-79.5 – Worth trying, but you’re not missing out if you don’t.
80-84.5 – I recommend trying.
85-87.5 – Definitely try this!
88-92.5 – I recommend buying a bottle blind!
93-95.5 – Stuff you reserve for special pours!
96+ – The meaning of life.
My previous scores (excluding value points):
Amrut Spectrum 004 87.5
Ardbeg 10 88.0
Ardbeg An Oa 89.0
Ardbeg Corryvrickan 91.5
Ardbeg Kelpie 91.5
Ardbeg Uigeadail 90.0
Balvenie 15 Single Barrel – Sherry 89.0
Blanton’s Gold 86.5
Blanton’s SFTB 89.0
Booker’s (2015-01) 89.5
Bowmore 12 83.5
Bowmore Devil’s Casks 3 87.0
Bruichladdich Octomore 6.1 92.0
Bruichladdich Octomore 6.3 93.0
Bruichladdich Octomore 7.1 90.5
Bruichladdich Octomore 7.3 90.5
Bruichladdich Octomore 8.1 88.0
Bruichladdich Octomore 8.3 91.5
Canadian Club 40 86.5
Caol Ila 12 82.5
Compass Box – Enlightenment 88.0
Compass Box – Peat Monster 84.5
Crown Royal XR Red 82.0
Eagle Rare 10 83.5
Elmer T. Lee 87.0
Glendronach 12 Original 84.0
Glendronach 15 Revival 90.0
Glendroanch 18 Allardice 90.0
Glendronach 21 Parliament 91.0
Glendronach Peated Port Wood 82.0
Glenfarclas 17 88.0
Glenfarclas 25 92.0
Hakushu 12 86.5
Highland Park 15 87.0
Highland Park 25 92.0
Jack Daniel’s SB-BP (16-0574) 89.0
Kavalan Solist – Ex-Bourbon (57.8) 87.5
Kavalan Solist – Ex-Bourbon (KavaFan) 93.0
Kavalan Solist – Port Cask (KavaFan) 92.0
Kavalan Solist – Sherry Cask (58.7%) 90.5
Kavalan Solist – Vinho Barrique (57%) 89.5
Lagavulin 16 90.0
Laphroaig 10 86.0
Laphroaig Cairdeas Madeira 2016 87.5
Linkwood 15 G&M 90.0
Lot No. 40 86.0
Lot No. 40 Cask Strength 12yr 89.0
Macallan 12 Double Cask 80.0
Macallan 12 Fine Oak 84.0
Macallan 17 Fine Oak 88.0
Macallan 18 Fine Oak 86.0
Macallan 10 Sherry 85.5
Macallan 12 Sherry 86.5
Macallan 18 Sherry (1997) 92.5
Macallan Cask Strength 58.2% 94.0
Macallan Classsic Cut 2017 85.5
Macallan Edition 2 90.0
Macallan Edition 3 89.0
Michter’s 10 Bourbon 91.5
Nikka Taketsuru 21 87.5
Orphan Barrel – Barterhouse 88.0
Pappy Van Winkle 23yr 93.5
Redbreast 12 Cask Strength B1/16 88.5
Sazerac Rye 86.0
Stagg Jr. (Batch 4) 83.0
