Blanton’s Straight From the Barrel

In the winter of 1881, Albert Bacon Blanton was born into one of the first families of bourbon history. At the age of sixteen, he started work in the Distillery as an office boy and fast became a leading pioneer in the development of bourbon.

From the time he was made company president in 1921 until his retirement in 1952, his Distillery expanded from 44 to 144 buildings to become the largest Distillery of its day. During that period Colonel Blanton created his very special and limited supply of bourbon – his private reserve – handpicked and stored in what now is known as the famous Warehouse H.

The Blanton’s brand was launched in 1984 when Elmer T. Lee introduced the world to Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon a year before he retired. In doing so, he revolutionized the industry with the world’s first single barrel bourbon.

Blanton’s Straight From the Barrel is the third version after the Original and Gold. But while those two check in at 93 and 1003 Proof respectively, this cask strength bourbon is a mammoth, clocking in it at 133.7 Proof (66.85% alc)! Despite the high percentage, it’s just an absolutely incredible bottle that it has become one of the ultimate for collectors. Unfortunately, I only have one.