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Horse Soldier Barrel Strength vs Blanton’s Single Barrel
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength and Blanton’s Single Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Horse Soldier Barrel Strength | Blanton’s Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 20% wheat, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +18 proof | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$78 – $85 ~$34 less | ~$80 – $150 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength and Blanton’s Single Barrel do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength Blanton’s Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 7/4 heat: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 6 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 3 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength: A barrel-strength wheater from the veteran-founded Horse Soldier brand. Brown sugar and toasted oak lead, baking spice and heat follow, and a splash of water pulls out darker fruit.
- 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 Horse Soldier Barrel Strength if you want a big, barrel-strength wheated bourbon with plenty of brown sugar and warmth at a significantly lower price point.
- 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, old-fashioned (Horse Soldier Barrel Strength); neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel).