Let’s talk about Blanton’s.

Yes, I’ve made fun of it. Yes, I have a TikTok video where I pour a bottle down the drain that somehow became one of my most watched pieces of content. And yes, I’m still going to tell you it’s a solid bourbon. All of those things can be true at the same time.

93 proof. No age statement, though it’s been quoted anywhere between six and eight years old. Buffalo Trace Mashbill 2, which puts the rye content somewhere between 12 and 15 percent. Higher rye than the Mashbill 1 bottles, and you can taste the difference.

Nice pop. Let’s get into it.

The nose opens up with vanilla, fresh strawberries, a little grape, and that classic VOC running underneath all of it. Vanilla, oak, cherry, caramel, all present and accounted for. There’s a touch of green apple in there if you sit with it for a minute. The oak is pleasant, not aggressive. One of the more inviting noses in the Buffalo Trace lineup and honestly a big part of why this bottle became such a crowd favorite.

The palate is going to sound weird but stay with me. It almost tastes like chocolate milk. Rich, sweet, smooth, and approachable in a way that makes complete sense for a 93 proof bottle. Light caramel, honey, brown sugar, and that rye spice bubbling up underneath all the sweetness. It’s a classic bourbon flavor profile that doesn’t ask much from you and delivers consistently in return.

The finish is crisp. Vanilla, caramel, a little leather and dry oak, some rye spice and light pepper. There’s a pleasant sweet heat that lingers after everything else fades. It’s not a long finish and it’s not a complex one, but it’s a satisfying close to a genuinely enjoyable pour.

Now let’s talk about where this bottle actually stands in 2026 because the conversation has changed considerably.

Blanton’s is easy to find right now. That sentence would have been unthinkable two or three years ago when people were calling every liquor store in a 50 mile radius and paying $200 plus without blinking. Those days are largely over. New MSRP is $84.99. You can realistically find these under $100 without much effort. Internet prices have calmed down to around $130 nationally. The fever has broken.

That changes the value conversation significantly. At $84.99 this is a solid buy. Under $100 it’s a good pour and a great conversation starter, especially for anyone newer to bourbon who wants something approachable with a little bit of story behind it. The bottle is beautiful, the stopper is iconic, and handing one of these to someone who doesn’t know much about bourbon never disappoints.

Here’s my honest take though. Gotta be honest. Seven out of every ten bottles of Blanton’s I’ve had have been exceptional. The other three were fine. Not bad, not something you pour down the drain, but just kind of there. And yes I did literally pour one down the drain on camera. That video lives on the internet forever. The point is that single barrel means variance and Blanton’s is not immune to that, Buffalo Trace’s consistency record notwithstanding.

And if we’re really being honest about the Blanton’s family, the one you should be looking for is the Straight From The Barrel. Higher proof, more flavor, more complexity, and if status is what you’re after that’s the real one in the lineup. The Original Single Barrel is the entry point. A great entry point, but an entry point. Don’t let anyone charge you like it’s the pinnacle of the family.

Pour price can vary as wildly as the bottle price. I’ve seen it anywhere from $10 to $50 at bars. Use your own discretion. Anything over $20 for a pour and you better be somewhere that’s really selling the experience around it.

At the right price this belongs in your rotation. Just don’t overpay for the stopper.