Ken. Spirit Vs. Blanton's

[GoodDram]

Your preferences...Don't forget to say why

[Jazzhead]

I love Kentucky Spirit - of the higher priced bourbons it's most worth its price. But I've never tried Blantons - I never much liked the silly bottle. Maybe this thread'll be what I need to try the stuff!

- Kurt

[cowdery]

Very close and very similar. I'd take Kentucky Spirit, by a nose. Why? Maybe a little richer flavor.

[TNbourbon]

I'm lucky to have some early stock of Kentucky Spirit, but I've never had bad stock, regardless of vintage. Blanton's nonplusses me -- what's the big deal, another drinkable bourbon?

[bluesbassdad]

I'm with Tim (except for the "early stock" part) word for word.

I've spouted off on this subject before. If you don't get enough responses to keep you busy, try an advanced search, posts only, keyword "Blanton's" and userid "bluesbassdad".

Yours truly,
Dave Morefield

[nor02lei]

Even though KS isn’t any of my favourite Turkeys I definitely prefer it over Blanton’s. Except the fact that I don’t particularly like the taste of it it’s another thing that puzzles me about the different Blanton’s expressions. Why is a bourbon that young so expensive in comparing with other BT brands?

Leif

[smokinjoe]

Even though KS isn’t any of my favourite Turkeys I definitely prefer it over Blanton’s. Except the fact that I don’t particularly like the taste of it it’s another thing that puzzles me about the different Blanton’s expressions. Why is a bourbon that young so expensive in comparing with other BT brands?

Leif

Do you realize how much it costs to make the little horsey on top?! Seriously though, Leif, I would think it's simple market positioning. They have a single barrel product that they have decided to position in the super- premium category. High price goes along with that. And, I have to believe this would be a very successful brand for BT at it's price point.
BTW, I would choose the Blanton's over the Kentucky Spirit.
JOE

[GoodDram]

smokinjoe,
Sorry to pick on you. But, so far you are the lone (although, I'm certain not the only person on the board/world that would choose Blanton's) chooser of Blanton's. What aspects won you over, or whatwould motivate you to choose Blanton's over WTKS?

[Hedmans Brorsa]

Well, I go against the grain, as usual. Hopefully, you should have gotten used to it by now.

I like KS, although not as much as the other "standard" WT:s (RR, RB, 101 8yo) What it has going for itself is a little bit of individuality, as compared to its brethren. "WT in a hat and coat", as I think Michael Jackson put it. I think it would benefit from a little less oak character, though.

However, my main point was about Blanton´s which I think, in true Hedmans fashion, is being unfairly maligned.

I personally haven´t tried one single bad Blanton´s bottle. The ones I have sampled include the standard 96 proof, Gold, straight from the barrel and a vintage 1998. They are different but they all share a common theme: a lovely, sort of, dark honey theme which, in my view, gives this whiskey world class status.

Some people have talked about a mustiness in Blanton´s. I have never ever encountered anything like that.

[Gillman]

I am not a fan particulalrly of Blanton although sometimes I really like it. It must be the particular bottle or balance it gets.

I think though Blanton's taste is a survival, from a time when there were hundreds of straight whiskey profiles.

Just like rye whiskey is a survival, and indeed the different kinds of rye, Blanton is a regional or company-specific flavor that is still with us. It carves its own niche and can't be easily classified.

It would be a pity if all bourbon whiskey flavors were ironed out and tasted like, say, Kentucky Spirit or Elmer T. Lee or (take your pick of a modern, "smooth" bourbon).

We need diversity in the palate and it comes from specific historic yeasts and practices, regional preferences (e.g. the "Barton bite"?), constant industry innovation, revivals by craft distillers and so forth.

Overall this is good for the industry.

Gary