Blanton's Gold Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Blanton’s Gold Edition opens with rye-spice and tobacco aromas, followed by caramel, honey, dark fruit and citrus. The producer describes similar flavors on the palate, with oak and vanilla continuing into a long finish. At 51.5% ABV, Gold gives shoppers a stronger expression to compare with Blanton’s Original.

Start with a small neat pour, then add water a few drops at a time, as the brand recommends. If you are comparing editions, use similar glassware and bring both pours to a concentration you find comfortable; that makes the flavor comparison easier to follow. Check the Gold designation on the bottle when buying, since the range includes expressions with different strengths.

How it’s made: Blanton’s bourbon is produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Gold is a single-barrel bourbon bottled at 103 proof, or 51.5% ABV. The producer does not publish a fixed age for Gold on its range page, so this description leaves age unstated.