Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel 2012

Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel

 Blanton’s Straight From the Barrel 2012 single barrel, cask strength from cask 67, dumped 6.9.2012 at 65.45 ABV / 130.9 PROOF.

DISTILLERY: BUFFALO TRACE

AGE: NOT AGE STATED ( BETWEEN 6 AND 8 YEARS )

BOTTLED: 2012

REGION: KENTUCKY, USA

BOTTLE STRENGTH: 65.45 ABV / 130.9 PROOF

BOTTLE SIZE: 70CL

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE WAX SEAL ON THIS BOTTLE IS CRACKED. PLEASE CHECK PICTURES.

Meanwhile, Almost a sister cask of the DT. Colour: straw. Nose: exactly the DT, minus the sweetness. More earthy tones, damp earth, mushrooms, seaweed, a little mint… This one’s maybe a little more medicinal than other Caol Ilas, and certainly very fresh at 25 or 26 years of age. With water: much more width and much more depth than in the sister cask. Old herbal liqueurs, humus, cough medicine, then a little butterscotch… Pack of lozenges…Also,  Even hints of tropical fruits (passion)… Very nice complexity. Mouth (neat): bigger than the DT and much, much earthier. Quite some cinchona, ginger tonic, green tea, strong liquorice…Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel 2012

Further, It’s also much more medicinal and bitter. Heavily infused green tea. Quite a beast! With water: it became as meek as a lamb (almost), rounder, smoother, with the liquorice remaining in the background, together with wee touches of cumin. Really great now, very full, very satisfying. Finish: long, on the same flavours, maybe a tad more medicinal again. Comments: this one is a state of the art middle-aged Caol Ila in my opinion. Maybe not as grand as other Islay distilleries can sometimes be but it’s 100% reliable, whatever that means. Well, I know what I’m trying to say