The Blanton's Gold Edition and Takara Gold Bundle pairs two versions of the same celebrated 103 proof single barrel bourbon, made for two different markets. Blanton's Gold was first created for Japan in 1993, and for decades the Takara Gold bottling, imported by Takara Shuzo, was the way most collectors found it. In 2020 Buffalo Trace began releasing Gold in the United States in limited annual allocations, giving American drinkers their own domestic Gold Edition. Both bottles in this set come from individual barrels at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, distilled from the high rye Mash Bill #2 and aged in Warehouse H, the distillery's only metal clad warehouse, and both are bottled at 103 proof. Retailers report that Takara barrels are aged around two years longer than the American release, which makes this a fascinating side by side comparison. The domestic Gold Edition shows caramel, honey, vanilla, dark chocolate and spicy rye, while Takara Gold offers wild honey, dark cherry, cinnamon and orange marmalade over toasted oak. The Takara bottle arrives in a gold box embossed with a Kentucky Derby race scene and sealed with maroon wax. Each label is filled in by hand with the barrel's dump date, barrel number, warehouse and rick, and each bottle wears a collectible horse and jockey stopper.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
51.5% (both bottles) |
| Proof |
103 (both bottles) |
| Size |
2 x 750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
| Type |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Single Barrel |
| Distillery |
Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, Kentucky |
| Producer |
Sazerac Company |
| Mashbill |
Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2 (high rye) |
| Warehouse |
Warehouse H |
| Includes |
Blanton's Gold Edition 750ml (US release); Blanton's Takara Gold Edition 750ml (Japanese market, imported by Takara Shuzo) |
Tasting Notes
Color: US Gold: honey amber. Takara Gold: deep amber.
Nose: US Gold: caramel, honey and toasted oak. Takara Gold: wild honey, vanilla, dark cherry and orange zest.
Palate: US Gold: creamy vanilla, dark chocolate and spicy rye. Takara Gold: rich and oily, with toffee, cinnamon, cooked apple and orange marmalade.
Finish: US Gold: long, with peppery spice. Takara Gold: long and warming, with charred oak and cinnamon.
FAQ
What is included in this bundle?
One Blanton's Gold Edition 750ml (US release) and one Blanton's Takara Gold Edition 750ml (Japanese market).
Are they the same bourbon?
Both are 103 proof single barrel bourbons from the same mash bill and warehouse, but they are made for different markets and retailers report longer aging for the Takara barrels.
How can I tell them apart?
Takara Gold carries Japanese labelling and comes in a gold Derby box with a maroon wax seal; the US Gold Edition carries American labelling.
Will the barrel details match the photos?
No. Each bottle comes from a single barrel, so dump dates, barrel numbers and rick numbers vary.
How should I enjoy them?
Side by side, neat, with a few drops of water to compare the two.
Where can I buy the Blanton's Gold Edition and Takara Gold Bundle online?
Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
