Those that are conversant with bourbon are equally aware that not all brands of this cocktail are similar. Out of all Single Barrel Bourbons, Blanton’s can be regarded as one of the best ones because of its high quality and the properly created backstory. Here you will be taken through a process that makes Blanton’s Original Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey. The aged consumers of bourbon or those that occasionally take bourbon spirit, or even those that are new to this kind of spirit will derive a new dimension of understanding into the type of drink they are consuming.
The Selection of Ingredients
Blanton’s Original Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey is made right from the sourcing of high quality raw materials. The main ingredient in bourbon is grain and out of it, at least 51% must be corn in the mixture also referred to as the mash bill. Blanton’s uses only high-quality corn along with rye and malted barley as the sources of flavor, color and smell. These grains are sourced and examined to the optimum in order to maintain the best quality. The said ingredients are mixed together to come up with the foundation of the unique taste of Blanton’s.
Mashing the Grains
When the grains are selected, they are crushed into a coarse flour and incorporated with water a procedure referred to as mashing. This mixture, known as mash is then cooked to gelatinize the starches which are present in the grains and make them ready for the process of fermentation. This step is very important as it precedes the process of fermentation through which these sugars turn into alcohol. Again, the control of temperature and time for mashing is critical to obtaining the right texture and taste.
The Art of Distillation
Here is the most important stage: distillation. Blantons Single Barrel Bourbon is fermented in copper pot stills. These stills are heated, and the alcohol, because of its volatility, turns into vapor and rises from the water and other components.
The vapors then go up the still, and on cooling, they condense back to their liquid form. This process will collect the alcohol and flavors, removing the need for a pot still. Blanton’s is usually distilled two times for the desired level of purity and taste in the market.
The first distillation yields a liquid referred to as low wines; the alcohol content of this liquid will be around thirty percent. The second distillation produces “high wines” or “white dog,” containing roughly 70 percent alcohol by volume. This clear spirit is what will be bourbon after some time of maturation.
The Magic of the Barrel
This is where Blanton's Gold Edition 70cl begins to stand out on the shelf. Once that is done, the white dog is transferred to new, charred oak barrels as well. According to legislation, bourbon has to be matured in new toasted barrels or charred.
The charring of the barrel results to the formation of caramelized wood sugars. The bourbon ages; the liquid fills up the barrel when it is hot and empties out when it is cold. This process coupled with time enables the bourbon to acquire flavor and color from the barrel.
What sets Blanton apart from others is the fact that it is the single-barrel bourbon. This means that each bottle is from one single barrel not a mixture of many barrels. All barrels are purchased when it is believed that the whiskey in the barrels is at its prime or ready for blending.
Aging and Selection Process
As for the careful aging process, Blanton's Single Barrel #28 LMDW Whisky Live is a perfect example of what one would get from the process. Matured for 6-8 years on average although the exact number might differ The bourbon typically ages for 6-8 years, though the exact time can vary. In this period, the master distillers physically examine taste some samples from different barrels.
He said they are searching for certain tastes that they want for Blanton, tastes they know are good enough to be used in the liquor. Not every barrel that is created is used or survives to make the final product. Those that do are sold in individual bottles, which is why one may find slight differences from one bottle to another.
This process is more labor-intensive than it would be to mix a large amount of bourbon together to make a batch. Yet, it leads to a better, less standardized end product for the consumer. Every bottle of Blanton’s is an example of a certain barrel at its finest hour, if ever there was one.
Bottling and Presentation
Once the specific barrel has been chosen, the bourbon is then bottled at 93 proof or 46. 5% alcohol. It is not chill-filtered, which results in the preservation of some additional tastes that can make the whisky look rather turbid when cool.
After the process, Blanton’s Original Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey is hand-bottled and each bottle will contain information on the barrel number, the date the bottle was filled, and the warehouse where it was matured. This focus is carried out to the actual bottle right up to the horse and jockey emblem on the stopper.
Instead of this, there are eight different stoppers, and each figure portrays a horse race jockey in an unusual position. Gathering all the eight spells out B-L-A-N-T-O-N-S. It is a nice little feature that helps increase the bourbon’s appeal in terms of collectibility.
Conclusion
The process of making Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon is one of the most detailed procedures and this bourbon is among the best in the world. From the purchase of the raw materials to the time taken to age the wine in oak barrels, everything is done with a lot of zeal. The end product is a bourbon that is full-bodied and full of tradition. For lovers of bourbon, Blanton S Single Barrel Bourbon is one of those brands that deserve to be tasted. Blantons Single Barrel Bourbon is exceptional; you may get your bottle at Liquor Kingdom.
