Blanton's Straight From The Barrel Review, Price, Proof, Where to Buy

Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel, New Release for 2025

Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel is a bourbon for purists, or the Blanton’s bourbon purists at least! It’s an uncut, unfiltered version of the hyped Blanton’s Single Barrel that delivers full-proof intensity. This cask strength distillate is produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfurt, KY. In this Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel review, we’ll explore the highlights of this release, including its price, proof, and where to buy it. So throw on your favorite bourbon shirt, pour a glass, and let’s dive into SFTB!

The Legacy of Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel

Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel doubles down on everything Blanton’s Bourbon fans love from the “Original Single Barrel”, the only label that can truly claim to be the first single barrel product on the market. Technically, the brand as we know it today got its official launch in 1984, although Elmer T. Lee was hand picking honey barrels as early as the 1950s for close friends and associates. And yes, there’s officially labeled bottles from the 1950s to prove it. Nonetheless, the Blanton’s SFTB expression was the third release offered as the brand’s fanbase started growing and the lineup expanded.

With no dilution or filtration, this bourbon stays true to its roots, offering a bolder experience. Just as you’d expect from the most potent bottle in the bunch, this cask-strength whiskey definitely isn’t your average box of Blanton’s that sits up by the cash register at a crazy mark-up. It’s more in every way possible.

Previously only available in select international markets, this sought-after release has now made its way onto shelves in the United States. Of course that stateside distribution comes as a delight to collectors, but your best chance of getting a bottle at MSRP is still probably in Japan.

Blanton’s Lineup

Blanton’s Bourbon has a generous lineup of unique single-barrel bourbons, including:

Blanton’s Original Single Barrel – A classic and iconic offering.
Blanton’s Gold Edition – A higher-proof variant with a balanced profile.
Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel – Uncut, unfiltered, and full of flavor.
Blanton’s Black Label – A rare and exclusive Japanese market release.
Blanton’s Green Label – A lower-proof bourbon for lighter palates.

Review & Tasting Notes

Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel delivers an unfiltered bourbon experience that was first introduced to us as we cracked open the bottle and got the first aroma. This may be one of those bottles that you want to crack open and let it open up, then revisit it later. Of course, that’s after you complete your first tasting.

Moreover, SFTB is significantly more intense than the original product as we start nosing our bourbon glass. Due to the substantially higher proofing, the ethanol is definitely noticeably, however it’s not overpowering. Once we get into the palette, the mouthfeel on this barrel proof bourbon is front and center. We are a fan of high proof whiskies, so we’re definitely a fan of the mouthfeel on this one! Straight From The Barrel means what it says, and that translates to a lot of viscosity during our tasting.

Compared to the flagship expression, The Original Single Barrel, our Straight From The Barrel review bottle is a staggering 35.5 proof points higher. Our bottle comes in at 128.5 proof, but they certainly go higher. The distillate comes off the still at 140 proof and enters the barrel at 125 proof. Then the maturation period will effect that proofing, typically increasing it due to the evaporation of water.

Nonetheless, since they are single barrel offerings, proofing can vary from bottle to bottle, so you might see a range from 121 proof to over 135 proof. Coincidence or not, the best bottles we’ve experienced have landed in the middle of that range. The coincidence probably lies within our own palate, so you should discover your own preferences and seek out a bottle in that proof range.

The palate is big and bold like you would expect, and is also accompanied by lots of heat. The finish is dry, but ironically does not give me the same Kentucky Hug that some other barrel proof bourbons are known for.

Color

Deep, polished mahogany with a vibrant copper hue.

Nose

A bold and enticing mix of dark caramel, roasted nuts, baking spices, and dried fruit, with a hint of toasted oak.

Palate

Full-bodied and intense, featuring flavors of dark chocolate, vanilla, toffee, and spiced orange, balanced by a rich oak undertone.

Finish

Long and warming, with layers of cinnamon, clove, and lingering oak.

Barrel

Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel is aged in Warehouse H, the same warehouse where the original Blanton’s Single Barrel was born.

Release Date & Availability

Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel is available in the U.S. as of 2024, but allocations are extremely limited. Distribution for the lineup is available for all 50 states, and of course international markets where it originated. Still, your quickest option might be specialty retailers and auctions for the best availability. That is, unless you’ve got a lot of time on your hands for the hunt, or you’ve got a guy for that! Typical of bourbon hunting, it’s always time vs money, and that certainly in this case here.

Proof & ABV

Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel is bottled at full barrel proof, with proofs typically ranging from 121 to 135, translating to 60.5%–67.5% ABV. Each bottle is unique, as the proof varies by barrel. The bottle for our review is rated at 128.5 proof.

Mash Bill

Like other Blanton’s offerings, Straight From The Barrel uses Buffalo Trace’s high-rye bourbon mash bill which is the Buffalo Trace Mashbill #2, which is said to be 12-15% rye. Nonetheless, exact percentages of corn, rye, and malted barley are proprietary and technically undisclosed.

MSRP & Secondary Price

The MSRP for Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel is $150. However, limited availability often drives secondary market prices above $300. That being said, the market is certainly heading into a cooling off period.

Verdict

Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel delivers unmatched intensity and depth within the Blanton’s Bourbon lineup. This makes it a standout in the standard seven expressions offered. From a tasting experience alone, we certainly prefer the higher proof offerings. Once you taste the version in this bottle you also gain respect for Buffalo Trace Distillery for how they tame this beast down to 93 proof for the standard release.

While securing a bottle can be a challenge, it certainly provides a lot more to unpack, even beyond its high-proof punch. Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel delivers unmatched intensity and depth. Its raw strength and complex flavor profile make it a standout in the Blanton’s lineup, and for those reasons it has a spot in our bourbon collection. Just don’t go full tater!