While we're committed to offering rare bourbon at standard mark up, we're also not blind to the fact that the market is on fire for these special products. While our competitors charge north of $150 for the standard expression of Blanton's, we're still only asking $55. That's while it can feel so hard to get some of these rare bourbons at K&L. So when the opportunity came up to purchase these re-imported stocks, I insisted that we do so in a fair an equitable way. Of course we could charge $400 a bottle for this special bourbon and likely still sell most of it, but it just goes against my ethos of what a great wine and spirits store should be for their customers. So while these stocks are above standard price for this US version of this product, they're being offered at our standard mark up, well below market price. It's a small price to pay for access to these special stocks, especially when considering what the market seems to be comfortable charging for the standard release. In any case, this is dang good bourbon and never disappoints. Like all Blanton's it's aged in the famous warehouse H and is the high rye mashbill. This bottle is drawn from barrel No. 397, which was dumped on February 7th of 2022 and bottled at 63.05%. Your bottle will almost certainly be different, so please be aware of the unique character of each barrel. The nose is absolutely explosive with rich aromas of caramel sauce, orange peel, Tahitian vanilla, cherry compote and vibrant woody spice. The palate starts extremely sweet and creamy before the rye and barrel spice begin to wallop the mid-palate. The intense spice and old school woody character balances the heavy woody sugars perfectly and while exhibiting plenty of the Kentucky Hug that bourbon lovers enjoy, it doesn't feel burn-y or ethanol like at all. The long chewy palate gives way to a rich oxidative finish full of nutty sweet chocolate and dried red fruits. A few drops of water add more fruit and tame the spice a bit, but I like this best right out of the bottle. There's no question that the price of entry on this one is high, but if you're prepared to spend this kind of dough on any other modern bourbon this should be a contender for top dog!