Straight From the Barrel

The untamed, pure expression of Warehouse H, bottled at natural cask strength.

Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel is widely regarded by whiskey purists as the finest expression in the entire Blanton’s portfolio. While the iconic original Blanton’s is watered down to a mild 93 proof, SFTB completely bypasses dilution and chill-filtration. Hand-selected from the center-cut sections of the legendary, metal-clad Warehouse H—the only metal warehouse at Buffalo Trace, which subjects the barrels to extreme temperature swings—the bourbon is dumped straight into the bottle. Because every bottle is drawn from a single, unique cask, the exact ABV varies wildly from barrel to barrel, making every single release an unrepeatable snapshot of a single barrel’s lifespan.

Originally created strictly for international export and duty-free markets (making it incredibly rare in the United States), SFTB showcases Buffalo Trace’s Mash Bill #2 at its absolute limit. The higher rye content (estimated at 12% to 15%) works in perfect tandem with the robust, uncut proof. The lack of filtration ensures that all the natural wood lipids, barrel char, and essential oils remain suspended in the liquid. This creates a massive, oily, and intensely decadent mouthfeel that commands attention, making it a highly allocated holy grail bottle for collectors worldwide.

Tasting Profile

• Appearance: Deep, dark polished mahogany with a thick, syrupy consistency and incredibly slow, heavy-clinging legs.

• Aroma: Deep, rich, and wonderfully complex. Intense waves of dark chocolate, toasted walnuts, and heavily caramelized brown sugar are accompanied by leather, sweet orange peel, marshmallow, and a sharp punch of rye baking spices.

• Palate: Impossibly rich, viscous, and full-bodied. A massive front of dark caramel, butterscotch, and dark red fruits (like plums and blackberries) coats the tongue. This is quickly followed by heavy layers of seasoned oak, toasted hazelnut, clove, and a fiery, beautiful tongue-tingling wave of cinnamon and black pepper.

• Finish: Extremely long, deep, and beautifully warm. The initial heat slowly melts into a decadent linger of dark cocoa, vanilla bean, sweet tobacco, and drying, charred oak tannins that persist for minutes.

Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel is a masterpiece built for slow, contemplative sipping. Given its high proof, it is highly recommended to enjoy it first neat to experience its raw power, and then add a few drops of distilled room-temperature water. The water tames the alcohol heat and dramatically opens up hidden ester layers of sweet cream, vanilla wafer, and ripe orchard fruits.