Blanton's Takara Red

Producer: Blanton Distilling Company, Frankfort, KY

Distiller: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY

Age: No Age Statement, probably 8 years

Bottled: 2020

Proof: 93

Finish: None

This is the original single barrel bourbon aged 2 years longer than the standard version. Blanton's Takara Red is only available by import from Japan. This deserves a little back story. The mash bill for Blanton's and a few other Buffalo Trace bourbons is owned by a Japanese company. This is Mash Bill #2, otherwise known as the "high rye" mash bill, though in reality, it's only medium rye. Blanton's was created as the world's first single barrel bourbon in 1984, but the Takara Red Edition wasn't created until several years later. It's named after Col. Albert B. Blanton, who was the one time president of what became the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Since Blanton's Takara Red is 2 years older, we should expect the extra ABV to extract more flavors from the wood. It's allocated and new bottles will cost up to $300 on the secondary market.

Color: Burnt orange

Body: Medium to full

Nose: Cotton candy, marzipan, cherry, almond, sherry, leather

Palate: Burnt sugar, caramel, clove, allspice, vanilla, marshmallow, cola

Finish: Medium, sherry, oak

Score: Queen

Song: Blackout In The Red Room - Love/Hate

Blanton's was the world's first single barrel bourbon. For years, the original version was the only expression available. Then, several different expressions were released in Japan. They were only available by import. Since then, the Straight From The Barrel version and the Gold Edition have been released in the United States. However, the Takara Red version is still only available by import. There are also some weaker proofed versions on the international market. Like the original version, Blanton's Takara Red is bottled at 93 proof, but it's aged for an extra 2 years. Does it help? Perhaps, but the difference isn't worth the import price. Blanton's is a simple bourbon done extremely well. It's the perfect form of ordinary. The Takara Red version adds some almond notes to the typical caramel, vanilla and cherry flavors in the original Blanton's. There's a little bit of sherry, some clove and allspice, some marzipan and cola, and a few extra aged barrel notes, like oak and leather. Takara Red doesn't reach the level of the Gold Edition or the extreme level of the Barrel Proof version, but like the original, it's an excellent daily drinker. Don't pay for the import, unless you're travelling to the Orient, but if you do, expect a slight improvement over the original Blanton's. I suggest pairing Takara Red with Blackout In The Red Room by Love/Hate.