Every detail has a history
Blanton’s Hang Tags
A closer look at the paper details that help tell a bottle’s story.
Reading the details
Hang tags have changed several times since Blanton’s launch in 1984. Their wording, booklet text, and release-specific artwork are part of the bottle’s presentation and collecting history.
Special Reserve, Takara Black, and Straight From the Barrel are released without hang tags. Gold Edition and Takara Gold share a tag design that differs slightly from those used on other expressions.
1984–1990
Early tags asked “Why this may be the finest bottle of whiskey ever produced” and contained an informational booklet.
The booklet was part of the original launch packaging, draped over the bottle’s neck to complete its premium presentation. Inside, it briefly explained the bottling process and helped introduce the single-barrel concept to customers.
1990–1992
The heading became “The Original Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey,” while the booklet’s interior information stayed the same.
1992–20??
A horse logo and “The Finest Bourbon in the World Comes from a Single Barrel” appeared in capitals, with revised interior text. Originally shared by several bottles, this design is now associated with Takara Red.
20??–Present
The modern Single Barrel hang tag. The original archive does not specify its introduction year.
Gold Edition
Gold received its own tag. Note the missing “s” in Blanton’s on the pictured example.
Both international Gold Edition and the Japanese Takara Gold use the distinctive Gold hang-tag design.
Special-release hang tags
Golden Promise: the La Maison du Whisky release paired a 103-proof Gold Edition bottle with an added neck wax seal and a unique Golden Promise hang tag. Its name came from La Maison du Whisky’s Golden Promise bar in Paris.
Sterling Silver Edition: some presentation sets included a hang tag with “sterling” misspelled as “starling.” The spelling is a documented packaging detail.
Frankfort Bicentennial: the 1986 commemorative presentation omitted the Blanton’s name from both the bottle and its accompanying hang tag, using the Bicentennial Distilling Company identity instead.
Memory of Yūjirō: the 1991 Japanese commemorative release featured a special hang tag showing a smiling Yūjirō Ishihara holding a bouquet of roses.