Which Blanton's Should You Buy? Original vs Gold vs Straight From The Barrel
Blanton's is the bottle people ask us about the most, and the very next question is always the same: "Which one should I get?" There's Original, Gold, Straight From The Barrel and the hard-to-find Black Label. We asked our owner how he answers that across the counter.
"There's no right ranking. Everybody has their own. It really depends on what type of drinker you are."
The short version
You like it smooth: Blanton's Original
You like more kick: Blanton's Gold (our owner's favorite)
You've been drinking bourbon for years: Straight From The Barrel
You collect rare bottles: Blanton's Black Label
You can't decide: get two and compare them. See the bundles
First, what every Blanton's has in common
All Blanton's is made at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, and every bottle comes from a single barrel, so no two taste exactly alike. Blanton's came out in 1984 and is widely credited as the first single barrel bourbon sold to the public. Each bottle has a horse-and-jockey stopper with one letter on it. The biggest difference between the four is proof, meaning how strong the bourbon is when it's bottled.
Blanton's Original vs Gold vs Straight From The Barrel vs Black Label at a glance
| Original | Gold | Straight From The Barrel | Black Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proof | 93 | 103 | Barrel proof, often around 130 | 80 |
| Taste | Smooth and sweet | Bolder, a little harsher | Big and intense | Light and soft |
| Best for | Smoother drinkers and most gifts | People who like more kick | Longtime high-proof drinkers | Collectors |
| Our price | $99.85 | $159.99 | $199.99 | $154.99 |
Blanton's Original
$99.85
"The Original is very good. It's smoother. If you want something smoother, I'd go for the Original."
This is the Blanton's most people picture, and the one we sell the most. If you're buying for someone and don't know how they like their bourbon, this is the safe bet.
Shop Blanton's Original
Blanton's Gold
$159.99
"Gold is my favorite, for sure. It's a little bit harsher, which is what I like."
Same Blanton's bourbon, bottled 10 proof higher, so it's bolder and warmer with more of a bite. For years it was very hard to find in the U.S. Heads up: our current Gold is on pre-order and ships late October to early November.
Shop Blanton's Gold
Blanton's Straight From The Barrel
$199.99
"The people who drink it neat are very deep into bourbon. They've been drinking it a long time and like the high-proof stuff so they can taste all the notes."
It's bottled straight from the barrel with no water added and no filtering, so it's often around 130 proof, though it changes from barrel to barrel. It's the bottle for the serious bourbon drinker on your list.
Shop Straight From The Barrel
Blanton's Black Label
$154.99
"Honestly, I've never tried the Black. At 80 proof it should be a very smooth drinker. But it's very hard to find and very hard to get, so it's a really cool bottle to have."
Black Label was made for the Japanese market and is the lowest proof of the four. It's the one to give a collector who already owns the others.
Shop Blanton's Black LabelIs Gold worth $60 more than the Original?
"100%, if you enjoy higher proof. It tastes really good. If you don't like higher proof, you shouldn't. Just get the normal Blanton's."
How to drink Straight From The Barrel
"If it's too harsh, drop a little water or an ice cube in there to bring it down a bit. But I'd get it just to try it. It's very high proof, and it's something cool to have from a brand like Blanton's."
The horse stoppers: why people collect them
Every Blanton's stopper shows a horse and jockey at a different point in a race, and each one has a letter. Put all eight in order and they spell B-L-A-N-T-O-N-S, from the start of the race to the finish line.
"I get calls from people hunting for letters to finish their horse set. Some people line all eight bottles up in a row on their bar. Others put the stoppers on a wood plank so you can see the whole race."
If you'd rather skip the hunt, we sell the full set: the Original horse collection, 8 bottles ($999.99) and the Gold horse collection, 8 bottles ($1,399.99).
One bottle or a bundle?
People buy Blanton's for birthdays, anniversaries and every holiday in between. Our owner's tip for gifts is to give two bottles instead of one.
"Who doesn't like more bottles? With a bundle they can taste the Blanton's next to something else, compare them, and figure out what they like better."
Blanton's Original + Gold$279.99 · smooth vs. bold, side by side
Blanton's Tri-Fecta$479.99 · Original, Gold and Straight From The Barrel
Blanton's + Weller Antique 107$219.99 · two Buffalo Trace favorites
Blanton's + Buffalo Trace$139.99 · a gift bottle plus an everyday one
See every combination in our bourbon gift sets, or browse all Blanton's bottles. Shopping for more than one person? Read our owner's bourbon gift guide.
Blanton's questions
What's the difference between Blanton's Original and Gold?
It's the same bourbon at a different strength. Original is 93 proof and smoother. Gold is 103 proof, bolder and warmer.
Which Blanton's is the best?
It depends on how you like your bourbon. Original is the best pick for smoother drinkers and most gifts. Gold is our owner's favorite if you like more kick. Straight From The Barrel is for experienced high-proof drinkers.
How many Blanton's horse stoppers are there?
Eight. Each has one letter, and together they spell B-L-A-N-T-O-N-S and show a horse race from start to finish.
Can you ship Blanton's as a gift?
Yes. We ship to every state except Michigan, an adult 21+ signs at delivery, and you can add gift wrap and a note. Order by December 15 for ground shipping before Christmas.
Written by the Liquor Royale team. We're a family-owned liquor store in Chula Vista, San Diego, open for more than 20 years. Our owner took over from his father and started our online shop so people across the country could get rare and allocated bottles. We ship to every state except Michigan. Questions about a bottle? Text us at (619) 735-6422.
Prices checked October 2026. Please enjoy responsibly. Must be 21 or older to purchase.