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Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B vs Blanton’s Single Barrel
Put Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B next to Blanton’s Single Barrel and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B | Blanton’s Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) +3 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$170 – $900 | ~$80 – $150 ~$420 less |
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B and Blanton’s Single Barrel do not publish an official mash bill.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
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B Blanton’s Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/6 spice: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 8 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 5 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 6 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10, Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B: Twelve-year wheated bourbon from the Van Winkle line. Soft and balanced, with butterscotch, toffee and caramel and a gentle, spiced finish.
- 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 Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B if you want a soft, balanced, 12-year wheater from the Van Winkle line.
- 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 at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B); neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel).