Warehousing is one of the biggest influences of a bourbon's flavour and quality. You see, when whiskey is placed in a barrel, the barrel wood to repeatedly absorbs and releases the spirit, giving the resulting whiskey its characteristic oak notes and amber colour. This process is affected by the rate of temperature fluctuations.

Because hot air rises and cold air falls, where the barrel of whiskey is placed in a warehouse really influences the rate of temperature fluctuations.

Warehouse H

Buffalo Trace Distillery – the makers of Blanton's Bourbon – takes this one step further by constructing their famous "Warehouse H" for intense maturation of their bourbon. 

The distillery often makes a song and dance about how its Blanton’s Bourbon is specially aged in Warehouse H. What’s special about this building is the thin metal walls. External temperature changes- Kentucky’s mercurial weather and four seasons - are immediately felt inside. Because of the high fluctuation in temperature, bourbon aged in Warehouse H ages faster and absorbs more complex notes from the wood. This led Albert B. Blanton, the distillery’s president from 1921 to 1952 to put his favourite batches of bourbon in Warehouse H. And yes, this is how the Blanton’s brand eventually received its name.

The first single barrel bourbon to be bottled in 1984, Blanton’s continues to be matured in the famous Warehouse H. Selection is a meticulous process and only 20% of casks will be stamped Blanton’s.  

A tribute to Warehouse H 

Warehouse H is enveloped in metal, a material that conducts heat better than the brick traditionally used in the US, leading its whiskeys to mature in a very unique fashion. It was in this building, built by Colonel Albert Bacon Blanton at the end of Prohibition, that the very first single bourbon barrels were selected in 1984.

This year's La Maison du Whisky selection features four new releases from Blanton's casks. Two of which are cask strength and a single barrel bottled at 97° proof.

Of course, these single barrel whiskeys were all matured in Warehouse H. Through the labels depicting Warehouse H’s façade, this new series pays tribute to the historic building. The Magnolia on the box — whose branches bloom with abundant flowers and green leaves that then turn red and return to the ground – denotes the passing of time and the patient ageing of whiskeys as they experience intense temperature changes within Warehouse H’s steel-lined walls.

Blanton's Single Barrel #1 Bourbon - 63.35% ABV

(LMDW exclusive) 

Matured on the third floor of this warehouse, this particularly complex cask strength version alternates between warm and refreshing sequences of flavours and aromas. Its elegance and noble expression are amazingly natural.

This has an outrun of 210 bottles.

Blanton's Single Barrel #76 Bourbon - 63.05% ABV

(LMDW exclusive) 

This cask strength version matured on the second floor of Warehouse H at the Buffalo Trace distillery contrasts the minimalist classicism and elegance of the Single Barrel no. 1 also found in this creation catalogue with a completely assumed originality of tone. Taking more uneven paths, its aroma and flavour palette blithely cross the border into Kentucky to fill up on medicinal and oriental flavours.

This has an outrun of 204 bottles.

Blanton's Single Barrel #22 Bourbon - 50% ABV

(LMDW exclusive) 

This Single Barrel No. 22 was matured on the third floor of Warehouse H and bottled at 50% ABV and is more introverted than the Single Barrel No. 29 also found in this creation catalogue and bottled at the same strength. With a remarkably deep expression, the range of autumnal shades that tactfully nuance its palette of flavours and aromas are the perfect example. Yet, from the midpalate, there is a change of scene and this relative discretion is shattered, making way for a full expression of the infinitely heady, fruity, vanilla and rich temperament usually found in this iconic bourbon whiskey.

This has an outrun of 240 bottles.

Blanton's Single Barrel #29 Bourbon - 50% ABV

(LMDW exclusive) 

The especially extroverted aroma palette of this Single Barrel No. 29 — matured on the fourth floor of the renowned Warehouse H — presents Blanton’s trademark chocolatey, spicy, fruity, cereal and hot notes. Revealing a very pleasant menthol and vanilla freshness, its palette of flavours is then particularly smooth and rich.

This has an outrun of 162 bottles.

@CharsiuCharlie