Pour for pour, Blanton’s Single Barrel is one of the most recognizable bottles on Sparrow’s whiskey and bourbon list, and a benchmark every bourbon lover in Kirkland eventually comes looking for. It is the original single barrel bourbon, drawn one cask at a time and poured by the glass at our Juanita neighborhood bar ($24 a pour, or $36 for a double).
About Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon
Blanton’s is made at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, and it has a real place in bourbon history: introduced in 1984 by master distiller Elmer T. Lee, it was the first bourbon ever marketed as a single barrel. Instead of blending many barrels together for consistency, each bottle is dumped from one individually chosen cask, so no two are exactly alike. It carries a higher-rye recipe (Buffalo Trace’s Mash Bill #2) and is aged in the distillery’s famous metal-clad Warehouse H. The bottle is just as iconic as what is inside, topped with a pewter stopper of a racehorse and jockey, with eight different poses that spell out B-L-A-N-T-O-N-S across a full collection.
Tasting Notes
Bottled at 93 proof, Blanton’s drinks richer and rounder than its strength suggests. Expect warm vanilla and caramel up front, baking spice and dried citrus from the rye, and a long, honeyed finish with a touch of oak. It is excellent neat or over a single large cube, and its backbone makes it a favorite pour for an Old Fashioned at the Sparrow lounge.
What to Pair It With
Blanton’s loves savory, slow-cooked, and char-grilled flavors. From the Sparrow dinner menu, it is a natural next to our American Wagyu steaks or the Sparrow-Smoked Rack, and it stands up beautifully to the Lamb Quesa-Birria Tacos. If you are grazing, the Truffle Deviled Eggs and Wagyu Sliders are an easy match. It is a perfect after-dinner sipper out on the four-season patio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Blanton’s special?
Blanton’s was the world’s first commercially sold single barrel bourbon, released in 1984. Each bottle comes from one hand-selected barrel rather than a blend, which is why it is prized by collectors and bourbon drinkers alike.
How much is a pour of Blanton’s at Sparrow?
At Sparrow in Kirkland, Blanton’s Single Barrel is $24 for a standard pour and $36 for a double, served from our whiskey and bourbon list in the 21+ lounge.
Is Blanton’s good for an Old Fashioned?
Yes. Its higher-rye recipe and 93 proof give it enough spice and structure to shine in an Old Fashioned or Manhattan, while still being smooth enough to enjoy neat.
You will find Blanton’s alongside the rest of our bourbon, rye, and Scotch pours on the full Sparrow beverages menu. Pull up a seat at the bar, find us on the Eastside in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood, and reserve a table whenever you are ready.