Why is a Bottle of Blanton’s Single Barrel Hard to Find?
A bottle of Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon is hard to find because of increased demand and popularity, the authority of liquor control boards, supply chain issues caused by the global pandemic, and the general nature of producing single barrel bourbon.
Written by CraftJack | Updated | 3 min read
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Premium bottles of bourbon whiskey such as Blanton’s, Pappy Van Winkle and a host of others are always in high demand. Blend in a trucker shortage and rising costs due to inflation and it’s no wonder why it’s hard to find a place, both in person and online, to buy Blanton’s.
There’s also a phenomenon called allocation, but we will get to that shortly. Hint: it’s a way to restrict access to premium bourbon at liquor stores. That’s why you might not see it at your local shop in Oregon or Ohio.
You also won’t find it in the airport gift shop. Orrrrr maybe it’s right there in the duty free section. Blanton’s has a habit of sneaking up on you, so don’t squander the opportunity to purchase a bottle.
What does Blanton’s have to say about its own scarcity?
Blanton’s Whiskey states, “Despite an increase in distillation over the past few years, demand for Blanton’s is outpacing supply. We are making more bourbon every day. While we wait, there may be times when bottles of Blanton’s Single Barrel are missing from store shelves. We kindly ask our fans to remember, aging good bourbon takes time, and we’re doing our best to keep up. Due to existing law, we cannot sell Blanton’s directly to consumers.”
So yeah, they know about the difficulties that face the small batch bourbon consumer and they are trying to do something about it. However, Kentucky bourbon cannot be sold directly to you.
It’s not the times of Prohibition where they are secretly bootlegging it out the back door either. You know, the people that they used to call “distributors”.
The Buffalo Trace Distillery (the maker of Blanton’s) actually leans more on the actual process of distilling to explain why there isn’t more High-Rye Bourbon available to the average bourbon drinker, and not the aforementioned supply chain issues.
What is Blanton’s?
Blanton’s is that round bottle with the horse and jockey on top. The distiller, Buffalo Trace Distillery, was really going after sophistication with not only the flavor profile, but also the overall packaging and branding. One look at all of the different stoppers should clue you in to that.
Blanton’s Whiskey is considered to be among some of the best bourbon on the market. It’s the type of whiskey you drink neat. It’s not for mixing with Coke, Ginger Ale, or any other soft drink you may have on hand.
Blanton’s Product Description
“Single Barrel Bourbon started with Blanton's in 1984. Nearing retirement, Master Distiller Elmer T. Lee was tasked with creating a bourbon of exceptionally high quality. With careful reflection, he recalled the earlier days of his career in the late 1940s when he worked under Colonel Albert B. Blanton. Colonel Blanton was the president of the distillery until 1952. Mr. Lee remembered that when Colonel Blanton would entertain dignitaries and other important guests he would handpick "honey barrels" from the center cut of Warehouse H and have that bourbon bottled one barrel at a time. As a tribute to Colonel Blanton's old tradition, Elmer T. Lee decided to name this new bourbon "Blanton's Single Barrel".”
Types of Blanton’s Bourbon
- Blanton’s Original Single Barrel
- Blanton’s Gold Edition
- Blanton's Single Barrel Red Takara Japanese Edition Bourbon Whiskey
- Blanton’s Straight From the Barrel
- Blanton’s Special Reserve
Question: Is Jack Daniels Bourbon?
How much does a Bottle of Blanton’s cost?
According to online retailer Drizly, a 375ml bottle of Blanton’s Single Barrel costs $50.59 on August 9th, 2022. The 750ml bottle costs $129.99.
For those in the know, there’s also a bit of secondary market trading going on. You may be able to barter and flip your way to a great bottle of bourbon by trading two good bottles. Or, by negotiating (haggling) on liquor bottle sizes as well.
Is Blanton’s worth the hype?
Yes, Blanton’s is worth the hype. The notes of caramel, vanilla and honey are as smooth as they come. Especially at the retail price of $50.59, we’d say so.
Alternatives to Blanton’s
Funny enough, there’s always Buffalo Trace Bourbon to source if Blanton’s isn’t showing up on the shelf. And, you could go the Four Roses or Wild Turkey route too. There’s also cask / barrel strength bourbon to consider.
Anyway, here are a few other whiskies to test drive. If you’re the discerning type, be sure to review the price tag as well as the mash bill.
- Eagle Rare
- E.H. Taylor, Jr.
- Elmer T. Lee
- George T. Stagg
- Pappy Van Winkle
- Willett Family Estate Bottled Bourbon
- W.L. Weller 12
Blanton’s FAQs
Can I buy a nip of Blanton’s (50ml)?
Yes, but they are extremely rare to purchase. Nips, or, 50ml bottles, are currently only distributed in the states of Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
What is the ABV of Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon?
The alcohol content (ABV) of Blanton’s Single Barrel is 46.5%.
Where is Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon produced?
Blanton’s is produced in Kentucky, specifically in Frankfort at the Buffalo Trace Distillery. The Sazerac Company owns the distilling rights to the American whiskey and produces and markets it for sale.
Who owns the brand?
Age International owns the Blanton’s brand.
Article Sources
- https://www.blantonsbourbon.com/
- https://www.blantonsbourbon.com/pages/faq
- https://drizly.com/liquor/whiskey/bourbon/blantons-single-barrel-bourbon/p1849
- https://www.pastemagazine.com/drink/whiskey/overrated-bourbon-hyped-overpriced-alternatives-prices/
- https://www.whiskyadvocate.com/12-most-flipped-whiskies/