Description

Blanton’s Special Reserve Red Label is a single barrel bourbon produced exclusively for the Japanese market — the same high-rye Buffalo Trace mash bill and Warehouse H aging program as the Original Single Barrel, but aged approximately two additional years, producing a noticeably deeper and more developed character at 93 proof (46.5% ABV) that makes it one of the most sought-after Blanton’s expressions among serious collectors outside Japan.

The Japanese market has long received expressions from American distilleries that never see domestic release — Blanton’s Special Reserve is among the most prominent examples. Where the Original is bottled at 46.5% ABV from barrels selected at the standard aging point, the Special Reserve draws from barrels that have continued aging in the center-cut section of Warehouse H, the specific warehouse location Colonel Blanton identified as producing the finest bourbon on the property. The additional time in oak amplifies the vanilla and caramel character while deepening the spice complexity, producing a bourbon that drinks with more weight and structure than the standard expression.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Creamy vanilla and caramel with deeper oak than the Original — butterscotch, baking spice, and a hint of dried fruit from the extended aging
• Palate: Rich and structured — vanilla, caramel, citrus, and warm oak spice. Fuller and more layered than the Original at the same ABV
• Finish: Long and warming with persistent vanilla, clove, and a dry oak note that the additional aging introduces

Specs

• Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky
• Producer: Sazerac Company
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Single Barrel
• Mash Bill: High-rye Buffalo Trace mash bill (corn, rye, malted barley)
• Aging: Warehouse H center-cut, approximately 2 years longer than the Original
• ABV: 46.5% (93 Proof)
• Market: Japanese import exclusive
• Size: 750ml