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Blanton’s Single Barrel vs Buffalo Trace
Blanton’s Single Barrel and Buffalo Trace sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Blanton’s Single Barrel | Buffalo Trace |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) +3 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $150 | ~$28 – $35 ~$84 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Limited easier to find |
- Blanton’s Single Barrel and Buffalo Trace do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Blanton’s Single Barrel Buffalo Trace
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/5 spice: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- Blanton’s Single Barrel: The bottle that invented the single-barrel category and still trades largely on its horse-stopper cork and its scarcity. The whiskey itself is genuinely good — honeyed and citrus-led with nutmeg spice — but at secondary prices you are paying for the bottle as much as the pour.
- Buffalo Trace: The reference-point Kentucky bourbon: balanced brown sugar and vanilla sweetness, a whisper of mint, and just enough oak and spice to keep it interesting. Nothing is loud, which is exactly the point at 90 proof.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Blanton’s Single Barrel if you want the original single-barrel presentation and a honeyed, citrus-led profile, and the hunt is part of the appeal.
- Go with Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace).