Blantons 2005 Single Barrel Bourbon Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 40%

Some bottles carry a date that means nothing to the world and everything to the collector who finally tracks it down. This one was filled from barrel 138 on Rick 25 in Buffalo Trace's Warehouse H, and on the 1st of October 2005 it was dumped, bottled, and sent out into a market that had barely started paying attention to single barrel bourbon.

Expert's Description

Blanton's Special Reserve is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Buffalo Trace Distillery, matured in new, charred casks of white American oak and bottled at 40%.

Special Reserve is the gentlest of Blanton's single barrel expressions and is sold exclusively outside the United States, built for drinkers who want Blanton's signature character in a softer, more approachable form than the 46.5% Original. Like every Blanton's release, it matures only in Warehouse H, the distillery's sole metal-clad warehouse, built by Albert B. Blanton in the years following Prohibition. Metal conducts heat far faster than the traditional brick warehouses, and the sharper temperature swings through Kentucky's seasons push the whiskey deeper into the oak than it would otherwise reach.

This bottle comes from barrel no. 138 on Rick 25 and was dumped on 1 October 2005, a date that is always printed on the label so collectors can trace exactly which barrel and which day the whiskey left the wood. Atop the bottle sits one of eight classic horse-and-jockey stoppers, which together spell out B-L-A-N-T-O-N-S and depict a race from start to finish.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Cedar and ripe raisin meet a touch of florals and a shy, understated vanilla.

Palate

Light and airy on the tongue, with vanilla and caramel drifting around dried fruit and a flick of white pepper.

Finish

Oak, a hint of rye spice and a touch of leather, mild and medium in length.

Specifications

Name: Blanton's Special Reserve 2005 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Region/Country: Kentucky, USA
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: New charred casks of white American oak
Natural colour: Yes
Bottled: 1 October 2005
Edition: Special Reserve – barrel no. 138, Warehouse H, Rick 25

Flavour Profile

Spiced · Sweet · Fruity · Light Oak

Investment Potential

Medium. A 2005 dump date is rare to come across today, and older Warehouse H barrels like this one draw collectors chasing specific vintages and dates. That said, Special Reserve is the lowest-proof expression in the Blanton's range and typically doesn't command the same premium as Original, Gold or Straight From the Barrel.

Did You Know?

This bottle was dumped in 2005, a full decade before Blanton's truly exploded as a global collector's item on social media around 2015. Back then, it could still be found on shelves without a queue or a bidding war.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Blanton's Special Reserve 2005

Is Blanton's Special Reserve worth the money?

Yes, especially because this bottle comes from a specific barrel dumped in 2005, a vintage that rarely turns up today. The value sits in the rarity and the story behind barrel no. 138, not in a high proof, and should be weighed against how few bottles from this exact dump date still exist.

How does Blanton's Special Reserve taste, and how does it differ from Blanton's Original?

Special Reserve is bottled at 40% against the Original's 46.5%, giving a lighter, more approachable drinking experience. It offers vanilla, cedar and dried fruit, but without the same weight and punch as Original.

What do the dump date and barrel number on the label mean?

It's the date the whiskey was emptied from its barrel and prepared for bottling, for this bottle the 1st of October 2005 from barrel no. 138. Blanton's is single barrel, so every bottle comes from exactly one barrel, and the label tells you precisely which one.

How rare is this specific 2005 bottle?

Very rare. Most Blanton's Special Reserve bottles found today come from far more recent dumps, and a 2005 vintage represents twenty years of warehouse history that rarely surfaces at retailers or auction.

Should Blanton's Special Reserve be served on ice or neat?

Both work, but the lower 40% strength makes it well suited to neat or with a single ice cube, so the delicate vanilla and cedar notes aren't drowned out. Serve it in a whisky glass with a narrow rim to concentrate the aroma.

What is the story behind Warehouse H and Buffalo Trace?

Warehouse H is the only metal-clad warehouse at Buffalo Trace Distillery, built by Albert B. Blanton in the years after Prohibition. The metal means the barrels experience far greater temperature swings than in brick warehouses, pushing the whiskey deeper into the wood and giving it a more pronounced flavour development.

Is Blanton's Special Reserve a good gift for a bourbon beginner?

Yes, the lower proof and soft, approachable flavour make it a fine introduction to the Blanton's family and to single barrel bourbon in general, while the iconic horse-and-jockey topper and the story of the barrel and dump date give you something to talk about over the glass.