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Buffalo Trace vs Blanton’s Single Barrel
Buffalo Trace and Blanton’s Single Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Buffalo Trace | Blanton’s Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) +3 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 ~$84 less | ~$80 – $150 |
| Availability | Limited easier to find | Allocated |
- Buffalo Trace and Blanton’s Single Barrel do not publish an official mash bill.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
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Buffalo Trace Blanton’s Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/6 spice: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price without hunting for it.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace); neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel).