Compare
Blanton’s Single Barrel vs Woodford Reserve
Comparing Blanton’s Single Barrel and Woodford Reserve is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$80 – $150 vs. ~$35 – $42).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Blanton’s Single Barrel | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) +3 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $150 | ~$35 – $42 ~$77 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Blanton’s Single Barrel does 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Blanton’s Single Barrel Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 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.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).