Blanton's - Wikipedia

Brand of bourbon whiskey Blanton's

Type	Bourbon whiskey
Manufacturer	Sazerac Company
Origin	Kentucky, United States
Introduced	1984
Alcohol by volume	c. 46.50% (varies)
Proof (US)	93 (Original), 80 (Special Reserve), 103 (Gold), Cask (Straight From the Barrel)
Related products	Buffalo Trace

Blanton's is a brand of bourbon whiskey produced and marketed by the Sazerac Company. Though it does not own the brand, it has exclusive distilling rights. It is owned by Age International, Inc.[1] It is distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky at the Buffalo Trace Distillery.

History

[edit]

The Blanton's brand was launched in 1984 under the guidance of the distillery's master distiller Elmer T. Lee, as the first modern bourbon brand marketed as a single barrel bourbon.[2] The original brand name was "Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon". A single barrel bourbon is one for which each bottling batch is produced from the contents of only one particular aging barrel – not mixed with whiskey from any other barrels (and not blended with neutral spirits, colorings, or flavorings). The company says that producing a high quality whiskey using this production method requires constant monitoring of every barrel in the middle of the warehouse by the Master Distiller. The barrels are dumped by hand without using machinery. `[3] There are eight different stopper designs, each with a different letter of the alphabet molded into it and topped with a figurine of a racehorse and jockey. When placed in order, spelling "B L A N T O N: S", the horse and jockey's poses display eight different scenes of a horse race, from standing at the gate, to crossing the finish line with a win.

Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon is typically aged for 6 to 8 years. It is aged in Warehouse H at Buffalo Trace, which is the only metal-cladded warehouse at Buffalo Trace and was commissioned for construction by one of the distillery's early leaders, Albert B. Blanton, shortly after the end of the Prohibition era. Being metal, the warehouse transfers heat quicker than brick warehouses, which allows for more rapid aging.[4]

There are multiple different expressions of Blanton's, each being a different proof. The original 93 proof Blanton's was the only expression available in the United States until 2020. That year, Sazerac Company announced domestic annual limited releases of 103 proof Blanton's Gold and cask proof Blanton's Straight From the Barrel.[5][6] Prior to these announcements, both Gold and Straight From the Barrel were available exclusively in select international markets.

Other export-only expressions are available in select international markets, including 80 proof Green Label Special Reserve, and the Japanese market's 80 proof Black Label, 93 proof Takara Red and 103 proof Takara Gold, all of which are aged for an additional two years. From 2014 to 2018 a 'Poland Limited Edition' release was bottled for the M&P Wine and Spirits Festival in Raszyn, Poland. Since 2019, this has been marketed as a 'Special Release' available to select European markets and retailers. Moreover, an annual collaboration with Parisian Whisky retailer La Maison du Whisky has been released every year since 2006, with the inaugural bottling celebrating the 50th Anniversary of La Maison, presented at their Whisky Festival. [7] [8] [9]

Albert Blanton and the Buffalo Trace distillery

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Blanton's bourbon was named in honor of one of the distillery's early leaders, Albert B. Blanton, who the company claims spent most of his life preserving the tradition of handcrafted bourbon. Blanton worked at the facility now known as the Buffalo Trace Distillery for approximately 55 years. He was born and raised on a farm just outside Frankfort, Kentucky, and he began working at the distillery (then called the O.F.C. Distillery or Old Fire Copper Distillery)[10] in 1897 as an office boy when he was 16 years old. Over the next few years, he reportedly worked in every department, and in 1912 he was appointed superintendent of the distillery, its warehouse, and bottling shop – at the same time that the distillery was renamed to become the George T. Stagg Distillery. He became president of the whiskey plant in 1921. Blanton died in 1959.

The company refers to him as "Colonel Blanton", as he held the honorific title of Kentucky Colonel (a relatively common honorific bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky). The distillery had several owners during its history, and was renamed by its current owner, the Sazerac Company, to become the Buffalo Trace Distillery in 2001.

Elmer T. Lee, the originator of Blanton's, was hired by the distillery by Blanton in 1949.[11] He introduced the Blanton's brand in 1984, a year before he retired, as the first modern brand of bourbon marketed as single barrel bourbon. Lee continued to act as an ambassador for Buffalo Trace until his death in 2013.[12]

References

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1. ^ Age International, Inc
2. ^ Gabriel, Trip (October 18, 2013). "The case of the Missing Bourbon". The New York Times. Frankfort, Kentucky. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
3. ^ VinePair. \"15 Things You Need to Know About Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon.\" 3 May 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2026, from https://vinepair.com/articles/blantons-bourbon-whiskey-guide/
4. ^ Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon – Review, Whiskey Lately Archived October 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
5. ^ Blantons Gold coming to the US Archived 2020-09-11 at the Wayback Machine, FredMinnick.com, February 27, 2020.
6. ^ Blanton's Straight From the Barrel to be Released in the United States Archived 2020-09-19 at the Wayback Machine, FredMinnick.com, August 27, 2020.
7. ^ Frootbat.com: Leading A Horse To Water The Meteoric Rise of Blanton's Bourbon, Frootbat.com
8. ^ [1]Warehouse H La Maison du Whisky
9. ^ Our Bourbon Archived 2020-04-20 at the Wayback Machine, BlantonsBourbon.com Our Bourbon.
10. ^ O.F.C.- Stagg Distillery https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/512?tour=39&index=7
11. ^ Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Emeritus Elmer T. Lee, Creator of Blanton's, Passes at 93 Archived 2014-08-14 at the Wayback Machine, Business Lexington, July 16, 2013.
12. ^ The Legendary Craftsmen: Elmer T. Lee, Buffalo Trace website

v t e Sazerac Company
Spirits brands	Whiskey American Bourbon 1792 Bourbon Ancient Age1 Barton Premium Blend Blanton's1 Bowman Brothers Buffalo Trace E.H. Taylor Eagle Rare Elmer T. Lee George T. Stagg Hancock's President's Reserve1 Kentucky Gentleman Kentucky Tavern McAfee's Benchmark O.F.C. Vintages Old Charter Old Rip Van Winkle2 Old Taylor Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve2 Rock Hill Farms1 Very Old Barton Virginia Gentleman W. L. Weller Kentucky whiskey Early Times Rye Sazerac Rye Blended Barton Premium Blend Fleischmann's Mister Sam Old Thompson Ten High Canadian Canadian Mist Caribou Crossing Legacy Rich & Rare Seagram's V.O. The Northern Lights Indian Paul John Irish Michael Collins Paddy Scotch John Begg Bitter Bittermens Merchants Exchange Peychaud's Bitters Brandy Paul Masson Cognac Sazerac de Forge Gin Booth's Fleischmann's Miles' Tinkerman's Liqueur Buffalo Trace Distillery Bourbon Cream Caravella di Amore Dimmi Dr. McGillicuddy's Firewater Fireball Cinnamon Whisky Goldschläger Gran Gala Grind Herbsaint Praline Romana Sambuca Ryan's Irish Style Cream Southern Comfort Tuaca Yukon Jack 99 Brand Mezcal Los Vecinos Rum Black Magic Cane Run Jung & Wulff Myers's Parrot Bay Tequila Corazón Margaritaville Monte Alban Peligroso Vodka Fleischmann's Frïs HDW Clix Nikolai Platinum 10X Popov Rain Saltworks Property Tenure England Wheatley Other Mr. Boston premium spirits
1Produced for Age International 2Produced for Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery

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