Can you do this as a series for all the hard to find bourbons/scotch, I like this format of giving a number of choices since I can’t find a lot of variety. Thanks
Ive been wanting to try it and I saw a bottle last night at target for 59. I had it in my hand until I saw they had eagle rare in stock. The double oaked will be my next purchase.
I happened to see on-line, that "Old Forester 1910" was placing #1 on a couple of whiskey surveys. I bought a bottle and tried it. I crapped a brick. It's really good.
@@robertbaker3174 I love those two myself and they're really hard to beat out get away from. But my recommendations would be Eagle Rare, wild turkey rare breed and 1792. As for the 1910, even though it's a brown foreman product and is nearly identical to Woodford double oaked, something about it kept me from draining the bottle. It's the longest lasting bottle of bourbon on my shelf and not because I was trying to save it.
All great choices! I've loved Blanton's for years, but since it's almost unobtainable now my favorite alternatives are the John J. Bowmans or Blade and Bow. Great video! Thanks!
The list of scotches, bourbons, whiskeys, and whiskys that I have removed from my cabinet as the price became more reflective of the hype, rather than the product, continues to grow. It must be at least 5 years since my last bottle of Blantons, and I don’t expect I will be drinking it again. Thankfully, the rise of craft brewing is producing American whiskeys that rival any of these corporate products, and the excitement of hunting down these small producers is much more satisfying than bringing out a bottle of Pappy.
I needed this video... I just started my adventure in to whiskey about 6-7 months ago. As of the last month, I have specifically taken a liking to bourbon. As I continue to look for unique and classic bottles to try, Blanton's is the one that continues to evade me. I actually saw it at a store selling for $250, which I refused to buy. Not long after my hunt to find Blanton's at a reasonable price started, I found out that my young brother, who by the way does NOT drink whiskey, has a bottle of it because he "wanted a cool bottle". When I asked him how much he paid for it he said, $50-60. He didn't remember where he got it of course. My hunt continues but I'm glad I have alternatives to search for now. Thanks!
I toured Bowman distillery 2 years ago and they told me on the tour that despite their juice being outsourced now, that the recipes and in particular the fermentation yeast are theirs alone. I was left with the impression that they don't just take one of BT's mashbills but continue under their own recipes. I wish I had taken notes at the time. They also had a large expansion project underway and the guide indicated they were planning on taking their distillation back in house. Maybe it's time for another tour. :-)
Great stuff! The 1910 is my favorite out of all of these. The closest thing I have found to Blanton's taste-wise is FEW bourbon from Illinois. If you can get over the fact that it's bourbon from Illinois, it tastes very similar if you close your eyes. It's not a single barrel, but it is 20% rye and bottled at 93 proof. Give it a pour if you haven't yet - cheers.
Yes! One of my favorites is Evan Williams single barrel vintage! It's like $27 a bottle here in oklahoma (which has notoriously high bourbon prices) and is outstanding! I'm spoiled to have this as my everyday pour and now find it hard to pay the price for eagle rare or Blantons. I would honestly be fine with paying $50-$60 a bottle for this, but it would then move into my weekend pour instead of everyday pour. Delicious!
I think I W Harper is a close substitute for the Blanton's flavor. The same sweet, oaky, cherry notes and you also get a nice, decanter bottle for display. It's not as hard to find her in NC. It's not cheap at $70-90
Started drinking Blanton's in the late 80's and I used to buy a bottle for myself on my birthday. Love it and I haven't seen it for years. I like Evan Williams Single Barrel, but the experience is very different for me. The lack of complexity is the stumbling block, but that won't stop me from enjoying it. The Russell's Reserve is much closer IMO. I can't think of anything I don't like from Wild Turkey. I will have to give the Woodford Reserve a try. I very much like their standard offering. Might be to sweet for me though. Eagle Rare is the closest to the Blanton's experience that I have tried. That probably isn't a surprise!
You do such an excellent job of explaining each bourbon without getting lost in the shuffle. I like your straight forward approach. Thank you 👍 I’ve been taking notes 😊
I don’t get the argument that Blantons is all marketing. I never have seen a commercial or any advertising anywhere for Blantons. I find it an incredible bourbon. All bourbons are what you enjoy personally and not what the hype tells you you should.
ssraebel I agree it’s what you like that matters. For instance, I like the older Jim Beam Devil’s Cut at the proper 90 proof (45%alc)... not the locally available 40%. I can’t find any except one bottle at AU$85 (US$55) and I don’t care what anyone says - I’m buying it.
I just started w/bourbons a few years ago .. never knew the wick or horse reference .. went to a bar in Lex, KY and w/all the "bourbon country" signs I did a taste test right there w/what they had : basil hayden, blantons, and a few othrs .. the blantons won hands down and I drank it everytime I came back to the hotel most nights .. had I known it was so HTF I would hav looked into getting a bottle .. elijah craig a bit more "bite", I do like russells and woodford resv but never tried the dbl oaked which will be my next purchase .. this vid is exactly what Iv been looking for but now I want a true second opinion .. lol . are these really to closest or are there ither bourbons similar even at a higher price point .. ?
Ive had blantons a few times. Neat its honestly just fine, but very overpriced. Thing is, my dad recommended putting it on ice which i thought was odd but honestly its the best bourbon on the rocks ive ever had. It turns into cherry ice cream.
I totally agree that a couple of ice cubes will transform Blanton's into a real experience. I accompany this with a square of 85% bittersweet chocolate and take a tiny nip of the square before a sip.
Thanks for doing the good deed for everyone here! So so soooo many other options out there other than Blanton’s that are equally or way better. Cheers Jason! 🥃
I have an empty bottle of Blanton's that I fill with AAA10STAR for my Blanton's snob friends. Same mashbill and about 75% of the flavor of Blanton's. Unless they are a true aficionado, the vast majority of people can't tell the difference. Marketing is everything.
My wife picked me up a few different bottles of bourbon one day. If you taste Blanton's side by side with other bourbons, you WILL notice the difference. I thought Blanton's had the best taste and Angel's Envy was the smoothest of a side by side taste test.
@@brettinnj I don't disagree about a side-by-side tasting and the results. My point was is that at the same mashbill, unless you are a true aficionados, If you saw me pouring Ancient Ancient Age 10star out of a Blanton's bottle, the vast majority couldn't tell the difference....
I managed to pick up 3 bottle of Elijah Craig barrel proof over the last week and a half!!! I know it doesn’t have a lot to do with this video but I’m a big fan of the channel and had to tell someone lol!!! Great video and keep em coming!!!👍🏻👍🏻
Ha, no shame in sharing in the excitement. Ecbp is some of my absolutley favorite whiskey that you dont have to feel guilty about drinking. A bit hard to find, but delicious and no brainer when you see it.
@@TheMashandDrum I tried hoarding the stuff, but my stock keeps dwindling. It's what I was afraid of when I first bought a bottle. Either it'd be expensive and I wouldn't think it was worth it, or, even worse, I'd decide it was worth it. Worth it.
A great value and my favorite alternative to Blanton’s is Legent. Hits all the right notes and has that incredible smooth and sweet finish. A joint effort between Jim Beam and Suntory’s master blenders. Worth getting a bottle and giving it a try.
I finally bought Blantons at BT distillery while on a KY tour. Cracked it open & drank it. The presentation is awesome but the quality of the juice is underwhelming. There are plenty of cheaper & more readily available bottles that offer a better drinking experience. It's a nice collection piece but NEVER pay over msrp.
I just started w/bourbons a few years ago .. never knew the wick or horse reference .. nov/2019 in a bar in Lex, KY and w/all the "bourbon country" signs I did a taste test right there w/what they had : basil hayden, blantons, and a few othrs .. the blantons won hands down and I drank it everytime I came back to the hotel most nights .. had I known it was so HTF I would hav looked into getting a bottle .. elijah craig too much "bite", Russells seems very good and woodford resv (the dbl oaked was meh .. I like the regular prob because lower proof .. ?) Four Roses Single Batch is quite yummy however this vid is exactly what Iv been looking for but now I want a true second opinion .. lol . are these really the closest or are there other bourbons similar even at a higher price point .. ? Dont make me go back to sipping case dragones tequila lol ..
@BEAUTYnIQ The Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is much different from their other bottles of Woodford I’ve tried. I think I like the Double Oaked more than Blanton's; however, I do not have them both present for a side by each comparison. For the money, it may be awhile before I complete the set of horses as the Woodford D.O. may become my preferred. I’m still interested in trying the other recommendations in this video. Cheers!
The double oaked is delicious. Just finished a bottle that was gifted to me. Just got a bottle of 1792 single barrel for Christmas and it is even better.
Thank you for all your reviews. Your knowledge of bourbons is only surpassed by the ease and enjoyable viewing style of your channel. No hype, no nonsense, no silliness. Just good honest reviews👍👍
Went to the Bowman distillery a couple weeks ago. Tour guide said all distillation and mash bill recipe is completely independent of Buffalo Trace. Whatever it is, it's a great whiskey.
Blantons. A bourbon fan boys dream bottle. Personally. I don't think it's all that great. It's over hyped. The bottles you mentioned are way better than blantons
Great Vid, I've never had Blanton's as it's a bit higher I'm willing to pay on most trips to the liquor store (even if I could get it at MSRP). But you've got three of my Favorites: Russel Reserve, Michter's, and Evan Single Barrel. I need to try the rest clearly. I realize these aren't your favorite bourbons, but I appreciate you helping us find similar flavor profiles for those of us who enjoy it.
Never had blantons but the woodford double oaked is my favorite right now followed closey by the michters small batch. Havent been real impressed with my russells 10 year. Still havent gotten my hands on amy old forrester yet but i have to say that that jack daniels single barrel is ridiculously good......cant stop pouring it.
Ancient Age 90 wouldve been Blantons if they left it in the barrel 2 more years. I didnt watch the video but MY go to is Wild Turkey Rare Breed. At 116°, its a blend of 8,10 and 12 year old bourbons. Ill walk by Blantons TWICE for it. Smoooooooth
Firstly, I enjoy Blantons and always have several bottles on hand. That said, while it's very good, I wouldn't call it the best bourbon ever. Listening to all the hype, I finally got around to trying EWSB and Russell's reserve 10. I was very disappointed by both. EWSB is mediocre at best, and tastes nothing like Blantons. Russel's is marginally better, but tastes much younger than 10 years. Additionally, it's at the price where there are much better, equally available options, including 4 roses single barrel (which to me is almost as delicious as Woodford DO, for about $15 less), Knob Creek SB, Michters rt 1, Buffalo Trace, and even Jack Daniels (yeah, I know, not technically a bourbon.). I've tried to like them, but I've come to the conclusion that Wild Turkey products aren't in the same class as BT, JB, or even HHs. I haven't had a chance to try Old Forester's 1910, but that's next on my list. A real bargain that is no longer readily available is Henry McKenna 10 year SB. The only surprise is why it took so long for everyone else to catch on to it.
Just got my first bottle of Blanton's and at min shelf price to boot very enjoyable but definitely wouldn't pay the 100 to 150 alot of places are asking
We were at Buffalo Trace last year and they were putting Blanton's out in there visitors room. Scored one apiece. Hope this particular Barrel was a good one.
@@Kru_ton18 Its very random. they put it out I think 1 or 2 days week last I heard but they dont say when. You have to be there right place right time.
I was there last may and they were selling out before they could even get them on the shelves. I love that they charge a reasonable price for it despite its popularity. It's a bummer though people are using that as an excuse to make a grip on them.
I really appreciate this kind of video. It's unlikely I'll ever buy a Blantons so this is excellent. As a huge Eagle Rare fan, what are some similar bottles to it?
Eagle Rare is tough because its an affordable 10 year old bourbon. The Michters bourbon and Russells 10 year are great alternatives for eagle Rare. Even the Woodford Double Oaked is great too.
The day I retired, I went right to the liquor store and bought a bottle of Blanton's for about $60. Evan Williams is such a great buy. I love about everything Michter's puts out. I'm not a fan of Woodford. I'll have to try your other suggestions. Thanks for the tips. I'm surprised that the Four Roses small batch didn't make your list - another great buy. I know, so many good bourbons/so little time.
Wolcott BiB from Total Wine is also a very nice alternative. And one that I personally think is superior. It’s the same mash bill but not aged quite as long. Sourced from Barton 1792 so it’s owned by Sazerac as well. Would love to see you do a video on it and other store brand bourbons
Great Video. If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone ask for Blanton’s when I was in the liquor store I’d be a rich man! Every time i hear it I look at the shelf and see 10-20 bourbons sitting there that are as good, or better. I honestly haven’t had regular Blanton’s in a while, so I don’t really remember the flavor profile, but all these picks are solid. Only one I haven’t had is the bakers, not really a Beam fan, dont like KC, but maybe ill give this one a try. I like the new label haha!
I’ve said in a couple of comments that Blanton’s is my favorite, and I discovered independent of any publication hype when you could still look through the shelves to pick out letters you needed (yes I have them all) didn’t need to be on a wait list, or be in a lottery at the store to get a bottle. I think too many of those of us that liked it talked about it too much.
@@jmanswat2457Ancient Age actually shares the same mash bill, as does Elmer T Lee. Ancient Age is more readily available though. Another that in my opinion has a similar taste profile is 1792. I highly recommend it, and it’s probably the best value in terms of quality for price that doesn’t come from Wild Turkey.
If its the Blanton's "flavor" one covets, allow me to save you some time and money. Go to a Sonic drive-in and get yourself a slushie, pour it into a grenade shaped glass, spike it with Everclear, and drink it out of a glass straw with a little horsie on top. You'll never know the difference and you just saved a lot of time and money. You're welcome, and thank you for saving real bourbons for the rest of us!
bt1hunter1 to me it is by far the closest taste to Blanton’s but at a higher proof making it even better. Used to be the best kept secret out there, but it’s pretty hard to find now too.
Stop people, the answer is literally anything else on the liquor stores wall, blantons is generic no complexity water that’s out there for the cookie cutters of the new Gen bourbon world, somebody convince me different that knows their stuff
Blantons is one of my favorite bourbons but I wouldn’t spend more then $80 on the standard bottle. Michters american ($40) and Evan Williams single barrel ($25 in nyc metro) are far more accessible and just as good imo
I've avoided this video because I don't really care about Blantons, but it autoplayed while I was busy doing something and damn I'm a dummie. Great job!!! Some real solid recommendations on where to go to get the profile you like the most in Blantons.
Excellent choices Jason! I'm going to need you to keep it quiet about Russell's Reserve 10 though, I would like that to stay readily available at that price point! Cheers buddy!
@@TheMashandDrum Two store owners of different stores told me the same thing about WT products, that they wouldn’t go up. I’m curious, why do you say the same?
@@evanjohnrobasci7356 well a couple reasons...one...wild turkey is a large enough distillery that they can pump out great whisky at great prices. They distill at great volume. Secondly...most turkey products...not all...tend to be ignored by the folks chasing buffalo trace.
I picked up an 8.5 year old bottle of Baker’s SiB and at first thought it was just ok-but then I blinded it against my other best bourbons (including Barrell Bourbon #25, Old Forester 1920, and Bardstown Discovery Series #4), and it actually won. I was blown away! It must have really opened up since I first cracked it opened.
Evan Williams SB tastes nothing like Blantons. Stopped watching there. I get that it's the bargain offering in a SB with age on it but it still makes this video clickbait. Sorry fella.
I never said it tasted like Blanton's. But it does provide a similar sweet and smooth experience that Blanton's drinkers tend to gravitate too. People chase Blanton's like it's the greatest bourbon out there and the video just gives alternatives to those who like what's in the bottle and not just the collective horses. If you finished watching I say that EW is not as complex as Blanton's but can provide a similar sweet and smooth experience. Cheers
@@TheMashandDrum Appreciate the reply. I do really enjoy Blantons....possibly for the mystique as it was my first true premium Bourbon experience. I just think EWSB was a shitty substitute, don't particularly like it and I was being cranky.
@@MrButterpantz I think the EW can be bland as well. But like some single barrels some can be better. I chose it purely because most Blanton's fans like how smooth it drinks and EW can provide that same smoothness. But I do think Blanton's is a much better bourbon. The EW seems to be a love it or hate it bourbon based on the comments for this video. Lol. Cheers buddy. No ill will.
Excellent list. I used to live across the street from Jim Beam on 245. I would suggest trying one I discovered recently: Redemption High Rye. Smooth and sweet, and under $30.
6:00 Minor, possibly pedantic correction. "91.4 proof, which is 1.6% less than Blanton's." Technically, that's 1.6 _proof_ lower, or 0.8% under Blanton's. OK, back to not acting like an asshat, great roundup, and like many have pointed out already, that B-roll is top notch! Cheers.
Thank you for your research I appreciate you. Woodford Reserve Double Oak is my favorite but in Upstate NY $66.99 is kind of steep. Buffalo Trace & Elijah Craig cheaper & delicious BT $35 & EC $32 cheers
Yesterday I got Blanton's in the bar. I was so disappointed that I asked bartender if this was by mistake a Bulleit pour ;-) actually I was finishing bottle on the shelf ;-). I came home and tested Bulleit, and guess what? The Bulleit was a way better than Blanton's reserve. Note: Prior to the bar visit I was tested Elijah Craig barrel proof batch B522. (my favorite)
When I was a kid I influenced my mom to buy me cereals with a prize inside. Inevitably those cereals were thrown away. Collecting figurines on bourbon bottle tops is hardly the way to seek out a good bottle of bourbon. Too much hype and influencing going on in the beverage business these days. Buyer beware! Try before you buy.
Collectible bottle tops aside, Blanton's is very good bourbon....at $35 a bottle. At $65...and you can spend upwards of $300 a bottle....it's below average. IMO.
@@charlest8373 Wild turkey 101 is a good product, readily available and at a fair price and even comes mounted with a cork ... no screw top. I'm a fan of Turkey products as well as Old Forester products. Unicorns and hyped bottles just ain't my thing. Lots of good juice out there, without all the running around and ridiculous prices to go with. I'm not a collector; I'am a drinker.
I'm really digging the Bakers single barrel. I went to Party Source awhile back and picked up a few 8 year old bottles and they were excellent drinkers. Also agree very approachable at 107 proof.
I still would rather have a 100 + proof if I’m paying this for whiskey. All buffalo trace whiskey could be better with a higher ABV. Saw a video where someone mixed two bourbons together to get something close to pappy. I am going to give it a try can’t hurt right..
I had to laugh at myself while watching this video. I love the alternatives and agree completely with your selections. But, while watching, I kept thinking 'Jason's hair looks darker than I remember. He must be coloring his hair'. Then I looked back at previous videos and realized this is the first time I have actually seen you without a baseball cap. Made me chuckle a bit.😁
