The Story
Barrel #21. Rick 53. Dumped July 31, 2019. Selected by La Maison du Whisky — one of the world's most respected whisky retailers — for exclusive bottling in Paris. Cask strength.
La Maison du Whisky is a Paris-based specialist retailer founded in 1956 and recognized internationally as one of the most authoritative whisky selection operations in the world. Their annual Blanton's single barrel selections are barrel-strength expressions chosen personally by their buying team from Warehouse H at Buffalo Trace — a specific partnership that has produced some of the most sought-after Blanton's expressions available outside the standard lineup.
The 2019 selection — barrel #21, stored on rick 53, dumped on July 31, 2019 — was bottled at cask strength with the full intensity the La Maison selections are known for. The documentation on each bottle — dump date, barrel number, warehouse and rick position — reflects the provenance transparency that defines premium single barrel bourbon. These expressions are never available in U.S. retail and reach American collectors only through specialty channels.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Deep amber with warm tones from Warehouse H aging.
- Nose: Elegant raspberry brandy character, violet and mineral notes, evolving through grain (rye, malted barley, maize) and jammy marmalade with beeswax.
- Palate: Incredibly pure distillate expression — coconut milk, citrus zest, and dark chocolate up front, with maize taking the mid-palate, finishing with tobacco and herbaceous chervil notes.
- Finish: Magnificently fruity — blackcurrant, bramble, white grape, and clementine, with praline, honey, and rose in the retro-nasal finish.
Specs
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, Kentucky
- Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Single Barrel, Cask Strength
- Barrel: #21, Rick 53
- Dump date: July 31, 2019
- Selected by: La Maison du Whisky, Paris
- Size: 700ml
Browse the full bourbon selection at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is La Maison du Whisky? La Maison du Whisky (LMDW) is a Parisian whisky specialist founded in 1956 — one of the oldest and most respected whisky retailers in Europe. They are known for their independent bottlings and retailer-exclusive selections from major distilleries. Their Blanton's annual selections are barrel-strength expressions personally chosen by their buying team.
- Why is the LMDW selection cask strength when standard Blanton's Original is 93 proof? The LMDW team specifically requests cask strength bottling for their selection — a condition of their partnership with Buffalo Trace. Standard Blanton's expressions are proofed down for their respective markets. LMDW selections represent the most intense and least mediated form of Warehouse H bourbon available.
- What does the rick number mean? Buffalo Trace uses rick positions to identify specific barrel storage locations within a warehouse. Rick 53 indicates the specific storage position within Warehouse H where barrel #21 was located — part of the provenance documentation that makes single barrel collecting meaningful.
- Note on the wax seal: Due to Blanton's wax seal design, there is potential for minor wax damage or leakage during transit.
Description
Barrel #21. Rick 53. Dumped July 31, 2019. Selected by La Maison du Whisky — one of the world's most respected whisky retailers — for exclusive bottling in Paris. Cask strength.
La Maison du Whisky is a Paris-based specialist retailer founded in 1956 and recognized internationally as one of the most authoritative whisky selection operations in the world. Their annual Blanton's single barrel selections are barrel-strength expressions chosen personally by their buying team from Warehouse H at Buffalo Trace — a specific partnership that has produced some of the most sought-after Blanton's expressions available outside the standard lineup.
The 2019 selection — barrel #21, stored on rick 53, dumped on July 31, 2019 — was bottled at cask strength with the full intensity the La Maison selections are known for. The documentation on each bottle — dump date, barrel number, warehouse and rick position — reflects the provenance transparency that defines premium single barrel bourbon. These expressions are never available in U.S. retail and reach American collectors only through specialty channels.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Deep amber with warm tones from Warehouse H aging.
- Nose: Elegant raspberry brandy character, violet and mineral notes, evolving through grain (rye, malted barley, maize) and jammy marmalade with beeswax.
- Palate: Incredibly pure distillate expression — coconut milk, citrus zest, and dark chocolate up front, with maize taking the mid-palate, finishing with tobacco and herbaceous chervil notes.
- Finish: Magnificently fruity — blackcurrant, bramble, white grape, and clementine, with praline, honey, and rose in the retro-nasal finish.
Specs
- Distillery: Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, Kentucky
- Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Single Barrel, Cask Strength
- Barrel: #21, Rick 53
- Dump date: July 31, 2019
- Selected by: La Maison du Whisky, Paris
- Size: 700ml
Browse the full bourbon selection at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is La Maison du Whisky? La Maison du Whisky (LMDW) is a Parisian whisky specialist founded in 1956 — one of the oldest and most respected whisky retailers in Europe. They are known for their independent bottlings and retailer-exclusive selections from major distilleries. Their Blanton's annual selections are barrel-strength expressions personally chosen by their buying team.
- Why is the LMDW selection cask strength when standard Blanton's Original is 93 proof? The LMDW team specifically requests cask strength bottling for their selection — a condition of their partnership with Buffalo Trace. Standard Blanton's expressions are proofed down for their respective markets. LMDW selections represent the most intense and least mediated form of Warehouse H bourbon available.
- What does the rick number mean? Buffalo Trace uses rick positions to identify specific barrel storage locations within a warehouse. Rick 53 indicates the specific storage position within Warehouse H where barrel #21 was located — part of the provenance documentation that makes single barrel collecting meaningful.
- Note on the wax seal: Due to Blanton's wax seal design, there is potential for minor wax damage or leakage during transit.
