Blanton's Gold Edition

NOSE - Candied cherries, honey, caramel, and light oak. PALATE - The flavors match the aroma, though their strength shifts with every taste. Considering the proof, the boldness of the tastes is remarkable. The texture is the most striking aspect of this serving; it is undoubtedly the smoothest and most 'silky' bourbon I have had the honor of sampling. FINISH - Medium. Sweet honey and caramel with some oak on the back-end. BUY? - Definitely, but I'd be reluctant to spend more than retail. Some shops can get wild with their pricing. I certainly wouldn't purchase it if it cost more than $50 above retail. BUY AGAIN? - If I'm fortunate! I would likely pay retail myself going forward. My wife got this for me as a gift for $40 over retail.

I've finally managed to acquire a Gold Blanton's. Having previously enjoyed the often over-hyped original, I was eager to experience this version. The aroma was somewhat similar to the standard bottling, but with an added oak/wood character and a hint of cherry. The flavor was certainly more pronounced, likely due to the higher proof, which was surprisingly very smooth. The oak was complemented by notes of leather, tobacco, caramel, and a touch of cinnamon. A rye spice emerged beautifully toward the finish. The oily body completed the experience. I would definitely buy this again if the price is reasonable.

Aroma: brown sugar, wood. An undefinable note. Like heaps of honey on number 2 pencils. After the initial taste and some air, a very sweet, floral essence emerged. Honeysuckle, perhaps? Body: Not full or thin Flavor: Sugary pencil shavings. On the second taste, lots of wood and a brown sugar finish at the back of the mouth. Aftertaste: Lasts a while. Some peanut emerged after sixty seconds. Comment: A spontaneous bottle offering from some wonderful people. They are the best. The first sip was surprising. Sweet wood, I believe. The initial conclusion, from the first sip, was quite enduring. A satisfying drink. Unique. It's like licking a number 2 pencil that was dipped in honey. Intriguing.

Opened for a year. Plenty of time to settle. Lots of oak and, a friend said, baked apples on the nose. Sweet wood and apples. On the palate: tobacco and leather; smokey. A sweet, medium finish. To be honest? I really want to like this. But it's just a few points above average. I haven't tried regular Blanton's yet, but if this supposed "premium" Blanton's is any indication, I'd choose Eagle Rare over this any day. Especially considering Blanton's premium price. It's unbelievable that people will pay too much for this on the secondary market!

The aroma is like standard Blanton's, perhaps a bit more floral. The taste is considerably lighter than regular Blanton's, lacking the rye flavors at the start. I detected a mix of honey, citrus, and floral notes. The finish is also quite light, though with some typical Blanton's characteristics. To me, it tastes like a store pick single barrel or an excellent barrel of regular Blanton's, with a more delicate floral palate. I wouldn't pay much over the suggested retail for this bottle, though.

This is much better than I remember. We’ve been talking negatively about Blanton’s for a few years, saying it's way overhyped and overrated for the price and rarity. *inserts foot in mouth* Quite the journey of flavors. Prominent oak and leather throughout with a soft caramel at the start, a cherry and dark chocolate undertone in the middle, then it bites you at the end with a fiery spice. Will be pulling this off the shelf again soon.