Review #: 436
Description: Blanton’s Special Reserve (2012)
Spirit: Bourbon
Background: Blanton’s Special Reserve, or better known as “Green Label,” is an international exclusive release from Buffalo Trace. Still single barrel, but proofed down to 40% abv. This one was dumped on July 2nd, 2012 so it is mildly dusty.
Distillery – Buffalo Trace
Bottler – Buffalo Trace
Brand – Blanton’s
Selection – N/A
ABV – 40%
Age – NAS
Nose – Musty corn, earthy oak, cherry Jolly Rancher. It’s light but has some layers of sweetness and earthiness that work really well together. Not intense or really distinctive, but nicely harmonious.
Taste – Extremely thin. Like mostly water. A small bit of sweetness and then acidic
Finish – Soap, battery acid, bitter oak, used matchstick. Soapiness lingers in the mouth
Score: 3
Would I buy a bottle? No
Thoughts: Like a lot of these older bottles especially at low proof, the nose here is really nice and pleasant but that ends up being the only highlight. The dilution overwhelms the flavor with water and just leaves the oak to come in bitter and tannic for the remainder of the experience. Not good and definitely not something I would seek out.