Blanton’s Straight From the Barrel Vs. Blanton’s Gold

Today we are comparing the two best expressions of Blanton’s.
Blanton’s is made with Buffalo Trace’s Mashbill #2 (higher rye).
Both are aged 6-8 years, and fairly close in price, but definitely not close in proof!
Fancy Glencairn can’t resist that beautiful gold pony on top. Let’s see if the bling is enough to make a winner today!

Gold) $100. 103 proof.
-The Nose is on the lighter side, but very pleasant. It starts with oak and leather, but then quickly dark cherry, vanilla, and some raisin appears. There is also a little funky wet-hay sour note that is really nice.
-The Palate is nicely mouth coating, and continues the dark cherry and vanilla notes, but adds butter, white pepper, and some leather on the mid-palate.
-The Finish is medium-long, and more spicy. Black pepper, rye-grass, oak, and lingering vanilla.
Overall this is a very enjoyable bottle, and one of my favorite versions of Mashbill #2.

SFTB) $120. 129.8 proof.
-The Nose is much more full, and starts with a sour-oak note, leather, and then vanilla, caramel, orange citrus, cherry and green apple.
-The Palate is mouth-coating in flavor, and starts with rich vanilla and apples, then moves into sweet caramel, cinnamon, dark cherry, vanilla, and oak.
-The Finish is long, with some black pepper, oak, caramel, cinnamon, and as you exhale, more dark cherry.
Overall this is an amazingly good pour, and is one of my favorite Buffalo Trace products.

VERDICT) This one is tough. While I definitely prefer the overall experience of SFTB, on a hot summer day I’m probably reaching for Gold. SFTB is something that you want to spend some time with, and 1mL of water really helps open it up. Gold is just really enjoyable, but the added complexity and strength of flavor of SFTB just puts it in another league for me.
Even Fancy agrees that the less fancy bottle is the winner today!

What do you guys think? What’s your favorite Blanton’s, and what’s you favorite Buffalo Trace product?