Blanton's is the original single-barrel bourbon, introduced in 1984 by Buffalo Trace's Elmer T. Lee and named for Colonel Albert B. Blanton. Every bottle is drawn from one barrel of the metal-clad Warehouse H, hand-dumped and labeled with its barrel, rick and warehouse, and topped with one of eight collectible horse-and-jockey stoppers. This page gathers the editions in the vault — the Original, Gold, Straight From The Barrel and the Japanese Takara releases — each linked to its own page.
- Produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, from the distillery's higher-rye Mash Bill #2.
- Introduced in 1984 by master distiller Elmer T. Lee — the world's first modern single-barrel bourbon.
- Named for Colonel Albert B. Blanton, who selected "honey barrels" from Warehouse H for his guests.
- Aged in Warehouse H, the only metal-clad warehouse at Buffalo Trace, where heat cycles faster; typically six to eight years.
- Every bottle comes from a single barrel — dumped by hand, with the barrel number, rick and warehouse written on the label, so no two are identical.
- Topped with one of eight horse-and-jockey stoppers that together spell B-L-A-N-T-O-N-S, each showing a different stage of a race.
- US editions: Original (93 proof), Gold (103 proof) and cask-strength Straight From The Barrel; Japanese Takara and an 80-proof Special Reserve sit alongside in export markets.
- Per-barrel proof and details are confirmed on each product page.
In 1984, a year before he retired, Buffalo Trace master distiller Elmer T. Lee bottled the world's first modern single-barrel bourbon and named it for Colonel Albert B. Blanton — the distillery president who, decades earlier, had hand-selected "honey barrels" from Warehouse H to share with guests. Lee drew from that same center-cut of Warehouse H, bottling one barrel at a time. The idea created the single-barrel category the rest of bourbon has followed since.
Blanton's is made from Buffalo Trace's higher-rye Mash Bill #2 and aged in Warehouse H, the distillery's only metal-clad rickhouse, where wider temperature swings shape the spirit. Every bottle is filled from a single barrel and dumped by hand, with the barrel number, rick number and warehouse hand-recorded on the label — so each bottle is its own. The line runs from the 93-proof Original up to cask-strength Straight From The Barrel.
The Editions
Each is a single barrel; the editions differ by proof and market. In the vault now:
| US Editions | |
| Blanton's Original (93 proof) | Single barrel · 93 proof |
| Gold Edition (103 proof) | Single barrel · 103 proof |
| Straight From The Barrel | Single barrel · cask strength |
| Japanese Export (Takara) | |
| Takara Red | Japanese export · 93 proof |
| Takara Gold | Japanese export · 103 proof |
Browse the wider Buffalo Trace collection and the rare and allocated vault.
Collector Note
Collecting Blanton's runs on two axes: the bottles and the stoppers. Because each is a single barrel, enthusiasts chase specific proofs, markets and dump dates, while the eight horse-and-jockey stoppers — one for each letter of B-L-A-N-T-O-N-S — make a full set a goal in itself. Allocation keeps the Original hard to find at retail and the Gold, Straight From The Barrel and Takara editions more so; condition, fill level and an intact stopper all matter.
Production Methodology
Blanton's is distilled at Buffalo Trace from Mash Bill #2, the distillery's higher-rye bourbon recipe, and matured in Warehouse H — the only metal-clad warehouse on site, where temperature swings are wider and aging is quicker. Barrels are selected from the center-cut "honey barrel" section, dumped one at a time by hand, and bottled without batching, so each bottle reflects its single barrel. Proof depends on the edition — 93 for the Original, 103 for Gold, cask strength for Straight From The Barrel — with the exact figure for cask-strength bottles printed on the label.
Authentication & Vault Preservation
Every Blanton's bottle sold through Midnight Whiskey is sourced as an authorized, authentic retailer, vault-stored and insured, shipped with protective handling and age-verified 21-and-over signature on delivery, and authenticated by our concierge before it ships. For the details, see how each bottle's provenance is checked, storage and concierge handling, and the standards behind our sourcing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Blanton's special?
Blanton's, introduced in 1984 by Buffalo Trace master distiller Elmer T. Lee, was the world's first modern single-barrel bourbon. Each bottle is drawn from one barrel — hand-dumped, with the barrel number, rick and warehouse printed on the label — and aged in the metal-clad Warehouse H that Colonel Albert B. Blanton favored. It is made from Buffalo Trace's higher-rye Mash Bill #2.
What are the different Blanton's editions?
The US line includes the Original (93 proof), Gold Edition (103 proof) and the cask-strength Straight From The Barrel. Japanese-export editions include Takara Red (93 proof) and Takara Gold (103 proof), and an 80-proof Special Reserve is sold in other markets. Because every bottle is a single barrel, proof and character vary bottle to bottle — and the eight horse-and-jockey stoppers spell B-L-A-N-T-O-N-S for collectors.