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Jim Beam Black vs Blanton’s Single Barrel
Comparing Jim Beam Black and Blanton’s Single Barrel is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$22 – $28 vs. ~$80 – $150).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jim Beam Black | Blanton’s Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 7 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) +7 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 ~$90 less | ~$80 – $150 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Jim Beam Black and Blanton’s Single Barrel do not publish an official mash bill.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
Jim Beam Black
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jim Beam Black Blanton’s Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 3/6 fruit: Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 6/3 nuttiness: Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Jim Beam Black 4 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Jim Beam Black: The extra-aged version of the white label and a considerable step up for a few dollars more. Softer and rounder than Knob Creek with the same family peanut note, at a proof that keeps everything gentle.
- 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 Jim Beam Black if you want the Beam house character at its most affordable and easy-going 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 with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Jim Beam Black); neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel).