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