Blanton's Special Reserve

Be warned, this is not going to be pleasant. I have been a fan of Blanton's since the first time I tried the single barrel with the beige label. I have to admit, I've never had any other than that one. I saw no need to. The standard Blanton's is an incredible bourbon; I even think it's the best bourbon for an average budget (meaning: not including any Pappy Van Winkle). I managed to get my hands on this "Special Reserve" (the green labeled Blanton's) and I was thrilled. This is going to be excellent I thought... I was wrong. The first thing that struck me was the alcohol content. It was 40% ABV (80 proof), which is less than the standard Blanton's. I didn't mind. I have tasted amazing whiskies at 40% ABV; but it certainly made me raise an eyebrow (if you understand what "The Rock" is hinting at, lol). I poured it into the Glencairn. The smell was great... On the nose: There's a wonderful burnt caramel note that shifts to a sour prune. Old bananas that have gotten a little brown but are still edible. Some sourness; oh! a red fruitiness appeared briefly. I think the plums and sour prunes are the primary scent here. Vanilla ice cream. Hazelnut. A lovely sweet and sour aroma. Bananas and hay appeared after an initial sip. But then... On the palate, my first impression is that the body feels strange. It's different. Caramel, a bit watery, definitely a fancy vanilla. Spiciness attempted to emerge but it just didn't happen. Weak, almost a "diluted" sensation. I can hold it in my mouth for ages, all flavor disappears after 10 seconds. An easy 10 seconds. It's now been 20 seconds and there are no flavors here except water (I wrote all of that while easily holding the whisky in my mouth). A second sip gave me banana, but then everything else vanished. A very faint vanilla. I even worried for a moment, thinking I had lost my sense of taste or something, but my nose is working perfectly, so that's not it. It's simply watered down. (Update: I ate after the whisky, my palate was fine. It was the whisky, not me). Aftertaste has a faint memory of Blanton's. It feels like I've added 10cl of water to it. The sourness somehow makes an appearance, but very weakly. Hay, a second sip gave me some tobacco leaf, bitterness. It improved slightly. No, this cannot be real. I refuse to believe it. Overall, it's been a long time since my last poor whisky experience. This one can be avoided. It's plain water on the palate. I can't believe the words I'm typing. Completely disappointing. You know we're living in strange times where your palate and nose can fail, and that's a scary indicator of something else... luckily it wasn't that thing you're imagining; it truly was a bad bourbon... my rating for it is 65 out of 100, and that's generous, because the nose scored 23 out of 25 points. Terrible.

When enjoying premium whiskies and bourbons, and interacting with fellow enthusiasts, it sometimes brings to light less desirable aspects of our pastime. Why do so many believe that only cask-strength whiskies are worth drinking? A lower proof doesn't automatically make a whiskey or bourbon inferior. Approaching each tasting without prior assumptions enhances the experience of exploring whiskies and bourbons globally. This bias against lower proofs has unfortunately made excellent bourbons like Blanton's Special Reserve an overlooked option in their lineup. It's truly a pity. That being said, I find Blanton's Special Reserve to be a wonderfully sweet and flavorful offering from Blanton's range. The nose is full of creamy caramel, vanilla, notes of sandalwood, and a touch of citrus zest. The mouthfeel is light, as expected for its proof. Caramel and vanilla deliver sweetness upfront on the palate. Mid-palate reveals some sweet and tart fruit notes, mingled with a slight bitterness. It reminds me of orange peels dipped in simple syrup. The finish is shorter than the Original Single Barrel, but still surprisingly satisfying for a lower proof. Creamy caramel reappears through the citrusy sweetness, spreading from the middle of the tongue outwards, then a distinct tannic quality, similar to a good Rye, makes its exit. This one is truly special. If you get the chance to try it, I definitely recommend it.

So I went through the whole lineup at a tasting, from the special reserve to the straight from the barrel. My favorite was the gold edition. The special reserve I tried was frankly a letdown. The sweet nose tries to distract you from the harsh initial taste from the alcohol content. In later sips, I did appreciate the vanilla and the traditional Blanton’s flavor profile. To be honest, I was let down by this tasting and would have definitely been upset paying secondary market prices for this bottle

I haven't tried the Special Reserve yet, but I'm a big fan of the original. It tastes of sugar, apple-like fruit, corn, and vanilla, with a slight peppery note. The finish is short and mildly spicy. As I was told, as strange as it may sound, the original version is much better than the special reserve. It remains a very good bourbon that surpasses many on the shelves, but it lacks vigor.

Blanton's is my preferred bourbon. I've tried the Original, Gold, and now Reserve. Some things require contemplation when rating. This one earned a 4. It has cherry, vanilla, and oak notes, as noted by another reviewer. It's a good value at under $60 USD here. Update: 11/04/18 I had another taste of this, and my impressions are similar to the other reviewer's this time. I'm uncertain if it's me or a batch difference. I might rate it closer to a 3.5.

Nose - Very rich and sweet aromas. A potent scent of cherry and vanilla, reminiscent of cherry vanilla cola. I really enjoy the nose. Palate - Still rich, but with strong vanilla notes. Very gentle and smooth. A lighter rendition of Blanton's with a touch of cherry. Finish - Extremely mild due to the low proof. Virtually no lingering finish. **Excellent if you prefer lower proof spirits