Blanton’s Single Barrel vs Caribou Crossing

Last Updated on: 8th April 2024, 02:52 pm

Unearth the differences between Blanton’s Single Barrel and Caribou Crossing in my comprehensive analysis, and choose your next sip!

Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.

Written by: J Highland

Blanton’s vs Caribou Crossing: Comparison

Blanton’s Single Barrel: A luxurious bourbon with vanilla, caramel, and leather on the nose, leading to a creamy palate of vanilla and honey. The long finish is sweet with honey and caramel. Perfect for sipping neat, thanks to its smooth, balanced profile.

Caribou Crossing Single Barrel: Light with a nose of caramel and vanilla, offering a palate of rye spice and vanilla. The finish is short and dry. Best enjoyed neat.

Verdict: Blanton’s Single Barrel stands out for its rich, smooth experience, ideal for connoisseurs. Caribou Crossing Single Barrel offers a lighter, easy-drinking option for those seeking simplicity, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.

Related: Bourbons that taste like Blanton’s

Blanton’s Single Barrel: A Smooth and Balanced Bourbon Experience

• Nose: Vanilla, caramel, oak, old leather
• Palate: Creamy vanilla, honeyed, baking spice, oak
• Finish: Long, honey, brown sugar, caramel
• Alcohol content: 93 proof (46.5% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water
• Similar to: Weller Antique 107

Blanton’s, crafted by Buffalo Trace, boasts a unique heritage. Its mash bill features a higher rye content compared to its siblings, Eagle Rare and Buffalo Trace, contributing to its distinct flavor profile. Additionally, the barrels used for aging are specifically chosen from Warehouse H, a location discovered by Colonel Blanton himself to be ideal for bourbon maturation.

Aromas of rich honey and caramel mingle with hints of aged leather and oak on the nose. The palate delivers classic notes of butterscotch and vanilla, accompanied by a moderate rye spice. However, it’s the smooth, velvety texture that truly sets Blanton’s apart, creating a luxurious and creamy mouthfeel.

The finish is long, leaving a pleasant warmth and lingering sweetness. A subtle, almost medicinal touch emerges towards the end, adding a touch of complexity to the experience.

Blanton’s lives up to its reputation as a well-crafted and balanced bourbon. Its smooth, creamy profile makes it an enjoyable and satisfying sip, especially neat and without dilution.

Blanton’s Single Barrel Details:

• Undisclosed mash bill, estimated to contain around 15% rye.
• No age statement, typically aged for 6 to 8 years.
• Awarded a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2012.
• Nicknamed “liquid gold” in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.

Caribou Crossing Single Barrel: Light and Smooth

• Nose: Caramel, vanilla, roasted nuts
• Palate: Rye spice, vanilla, baking spice, caramel, oak
• Finish: Short, rye spice, oak
• Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
• How to drink: Add water
• Similar to: Rock Hill Farm

Aroma: Caribou Crossing offers a welcoming nose with gentle notes of caramel, vanilla, and a hint of roasted peanuts.

Taste: While smooth and easy to drink neat, the palate feels light in body and texture. It presents mild rye spice with hints of vanilla, followed by subtle baking spices and caramel. A touch of oak lingers in the background.

Finish: The finish is brief and dry, lacking warmth, with lingering notes of rye spice and oak.

Recommendation: Due to its easy-sipping nature, Caribou Crossing is best enjoyed neat. However, it’s important to consider other factors before purchase.

Overall: Despite being marketed as a unique single barrel Canadian whisky, Caribou Crossing falls short in complexity compared to other single barrels, especially considering its price point. Additionally, it is bottled at a lower proof (80) than some competitors.

Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Facts:

• No age statement (estimated at 3 years)
• Undisclosed mash bill (likely rye-forward)
• Produced at the Old Montreal Distillery (est. 1929)
• Bottled in Kentucky

What do Blanton’s and Caribou have in common?

The U.S.-based Sazerac Company owns both

The Sazerac Company owns Blanton’s and Caribou, bottled at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY.

The packaging is very similar, making it look like Caribou like the “Canadian Blanton’s.”

Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Whiskey	Price
Blanton’s Single Barrel	$130
Caribou Crossing Single Barrel	$75