Bourbon Whiskey Archives – Page 20 of 79

1792 Single Barrel Bourbon

Posted on 09-May-202226-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s 1792 Single Barrel Bourbon Review:

reviewed 03-May-2022

1792 SINGLE BARRELBOURBON REVIEW:

1792 Single Barrel Bourbon (1792 SiB) seems (to me) to be a “chip off the old block”. With the exception of their 1792 Sweet Wheat, the four other 1792 bourbons I’ve had have similar traits, with the most common being an earthy freshness, a solid backing of oak, faint sweets, a bit of unexpected heat and a surprisingly light tawny color. 1792 SiB is no different, and for me a bit of a letdown.

1792 SINGLE BARREL VITAL STATS:

Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Region: Bardstown, Kentucky, USA
Distillery: Barton 1792 Distillery
Master Distiller: Danny Kahn
Parent Company: Sazerac Company Inc.
Mash Bill: unpublished (Marketed as “High Rye,” and believed to be 15-25% rye)
Barrel Char: #3.5
Barrel entry proof: 125
Age: nas
ABV: 48.3% (96.6 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 21443
Price: $49.95 (in Idaho, April 2022)
Limited edition and availability
No barrel, batch or bottle number identifiers
(One would think the barrel number might be included on the bottle)

^{In order to create this unique bourbon, the finest barrels are selected and tasted from the best aging warehouses. Only those barrels deemed “exceptional” are then bottled individually, one by one. This preserves the distinct character of each barrel.
_{— 1792 Bourbon}}

Learn more at 1792 Bourbon.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

After opening a new bottle, alternate pours, equaling about four ounces, were added into two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

1792 SINGLE BARREL NOSE:

With heavy draws, 1792 SiB gives the nose a quick but manageable burn. As the whiskey rests, I can coax out roasted corn, dusty grain and faint, barely there fresh mint mixed with the aroma of blueberries and bananas. Then come allspice, nutmeg, white pepper, and rye which almost overpowers sweet chocolate chips, light vanilla, woody dark caramel, and light molasses. But throughout my nosing, it is earthy air seasoned dried and toasted oak with barrel char and potting soil which have the largest impact on this bourbon’s aroma.

1792 SINGLE BARREL PALATE:

1792 SiB’s flavors are few and most are faint. Like sensed on the nose I get roasted corn and dusty grain but in my mouth there are sensations of acidic and bitter citrus although I cannot settle on any particular fruit. There is pepper and rye here too along with bittersweet chocolate, light vanilla and notes of light molasses. But much like the nose, it is the woodiness which dominates. I both taste and feel seasoned dried oak, toasted wood and barrel char.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
The first sip of 1792 SiB is mellow and warm, creamy and easy to hold yet gives my mouth and tongue a slight tickle. After an aggressive Kentucky chew the whiskey becomes agitated and I feel hot ethanol. Further, this pour is uneven; there is a bitter and acidic aftertaste. But does it come from citrus, burnt toffee, nuts, or wood? I cannot say. Then, as I set the glass down between sips, long and thin clinging legs return the liquid to the tawny colored pool leaving behind an uneven and irregularly spaced inverted droplet crown.

1792 SINGLE BARREL FINISH:

1792 Single Barrel Bourbon has a long and bitter finish. While I will not say this is bad, there is a warm burn with a surprising amount of heat in the throat. Like the aromas and flavors, these sensations are subtle. In the finish I feel the a presence of roasted corn, some black pepper, bittersweet chocolate and dark molasses, but they seem at odds with one another. And always the seasoned dry and toasted oak and char. And once I finished the last drops, the empty Glencairn smells of dry old toasted oak. Sadly, I am not happy with this pour.

MY RATING: 82/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? NO
Barton 1792 Distillery products are either a hit or miss for me. 1792 SiB is a miss for me.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

To access other whiskeys with this score, click 82/100.
Click 1792 Barton to see other whiskies from this distillery.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Brian’s Whiskey Reviews
Individual Whiskey Reviews

1792 Single Barrel Review

Posted on 09-May-202227-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s 1792 Single Barrel Review

Original review written May 3, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Bitter, woody, with a lack of overt sweetness. If you don’t care for sugary (whether through fruit or otherwise), this may be something to look into. Otherwise, it’s a pass for me. 80/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Bardstown, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Barton 1792 Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: unpublished (marketed as “High rye” and believed to be 15-25% rye)
– Casks: Char #3.5
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 48.3% (96.6 proof)
– Price: $49.95 USD in Idaho 2022

Visit http://1792bourbon.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I envision an abandoned wooden shed, completely overgrown with plant-life and dirt. It’d barely be recognizable unless you knew where to look. It’s the perfect hideaway – a place to go with your thoughts and something that won’t distract you from them. 1792 Single Barrel fits perfectly into this category. There’s enough instant burn to bring you back to reality but a lack of complexity to let your thoughts just *roam*.

Photo by Andrew Ly on Unsplash

NOSE:

This has significantly more ethanol on the first inhale than I would have originally anticipated for something under 100 proof. It’s not that it’s an aggressive alcohol bite that stings, but it is that essence of alcohol regardless that is most striking. It covers other aromas on the outset, but underneath can be found cinnamon, clove, brine, and black pepper. This spice dominant nose mixes with fruit leather of a dark, stone fruit like plum as well as a peanut-heavy toffee, chocolate, and vanilla. In fact, it’s this toffee smell that gradually takes over as the bourbon continues to breathe. There’s also subtle hazelnut and old, oaky sawdust to round off this increasingly complex bourbon nose.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Despite the zing of the alcohol, I feel like there lacks a complex, well-woven foundation. As such, I’d say the mouth feel is watery.
– Balance: Unbalanced. There’s marked disjoint where this alcohol and the bitter stands out too far from everything and anything else.
– Visual: Tawny in color, this leaves fast-falling, thick legs from an even and similarly thick crown. They all fade quickly.

– Taste: Nutty bitterness crosses the palate first, but there is chocolate, and burnt caramel for some degree of sweetness to balance out the bitter. Nevertheless, the nuts do dominate – again, with peanuts, hazelnuts, and now even walnuts. The oaky sawdust from the nose is here as well, offering a chewy component that this bourbon is in much need of. There’s leather to go with the wood, but it’s new with still a bit of tang to it.

The alcohol is surprisingly forward and feels like needles in the throat. Much like a bed of nails on the back of my palate. There isn’t pain necessarily; however, there is discomfort. This forward alcohol, with the proof (again) being under 100, indicates a sense of unbalance for me. I’m a little let down. A Kentucky chew pulls more wood and leather forward, chased quickly by bitterness.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Long. The warmth lingers at the back of the palate, with some minor aftertaste as well.
– Between Sips: Bitterness with nuts and sawdust linger between sips – just a carryover from what’s happening on the palate.

– No More: This does improve the further into the glass I get, but I’m not convinced it’s one that earns any kind of high praise from me. A bit more fruit in the way of darker ones like plum and a stray cherry appear every now and then, but it’s subtle.

The empty Glencairn is freshly sawn oak – the kind you’d find in a woodshop. Strong, warm, with just a bite of age.

WORTH THE PRICE?

$40 is a decent asking price for any bourbon these days. I do think there are better ones within this price range (Eagle Rare, Knob Creek, Four Roses, and others), but I can see a new bourbon drinker really finding this one approachable. It’s nice to have (now that I’ve had almost all of the 1792 line), but I don’t think it’s necessary for me to purchase again.

1792 SINGLE BARREL REVIEW RATING: 80/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

To access other whiskies with this rating, click 80/100.
Click 1792 Barton to see other whiskies from this distillery.

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Hannah’s Whiskey Reviews
Whiskey Reviews

Stagg Jr Batch 17 Bourbon

Posted on 01-May-202229-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Stagg Jr Batch 17 Review:

reviewed 26-April-2022

STAGG JR BATCH 17 BOURBON REVIEW:

Stagg Jr Batch 17 (Stagg Jr B17) starts dark and woody bringing only a touch of alcohol to the nose. The dark aromas I smell then pass to the palate and on to the finish. I found this batch a bit challenging to review as most of the aromas and flavors are quite subtle. But this bourbon grew on me the longer I sat and sipped. It is a good one and if B17 is truly the last of the line, it lives up to the legacy.

STAGG JR BATCH 17 VITAL STATS:

Category: Barrel Proof Bourbon
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Buffalo Trace
Mashbill: Buffalo Trace Mashbill #1 (low rye <10% rye, speculated to be about 75% corn, 10% rye and 15% malted barley)
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel Entry Proof: 125
Age: nas (believed to be ~ 8-9 years old)
Released: Fall 2021
ABV: 64.35% (128.7 Proof)
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered
NABCA CSC #: 21540
Price: $49.95 (purchased in Idaho October-2021)

Learn more at Buffalo Trace Brands.

Other than ABV and proof numbers, bottles of Stagg Jr do not include batch or other number identifiers. An internet search for the proof of “128.7” reveals this bottle to be Batch 17, bottled in the fall of 2021.

Click Bourbonex for detailed Stagg Jr, batch information.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

Taken out of the newly opened bottle, the first one and a half ounces mixed with the bourbon in our Infinity Bottle Project. Then, by alternating pours, four once review amounts went into two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review. Our glasses rested for about 15 minutes before we began our nosing.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

STAGG JR BATCH 17 NOSE:

At first there was hardly any alcohol when first brought to my nose. But with heavy draughts, Stagg Jr B17 gives the nose a slight burn. As I acclimate, I sense sherry wine and tannins from the barrel, then dry roasted corn and dusty grain. Soon I detect a basket of dark dried fruits; figs, currants, plum, and a faint dark cherry jam. Continued nosing brings allspice, cinnamon, and white pepper and then more fruit aromas … now dark Bing cherry pie. While most of the sweetness comes from fruit, I also get rich vanilla, brown sugar, burnt caramel, light molasses and a few toasted almonds. But what shines here is the sense of age. I smell dry old oak, toasted wood, and smoky sweet barrel char coupled with earthy leather and musty potting soil.

STAGG JR BATCH 17 PALATE:

So many of Stagg Jr B17’s aromas pass to the palate. Warm wine tannins, roasted corn and dusty grain mix with dark dried currants and ripe plums. While fruit forward, this bourbon is dark making the spices stand out. Allspice, toasted cinnamon sticks, ginger, and black pepper blend with rich vanilla, brown sugar caramel, and light molasses. Under the nectar’s spice and sweets lays a foundation of dry old toasted oak, barrel char, and musty leather. All the flavors blend and no trait overpowers another.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Stagg Jr B17 is creamy, viscous and easy to hold. It is hard for me to believe this is 128.7 Proof, as B17 is quite mellow and rich. The nose, palate and finish are in balance making this a solid bourbon. In between my nosing and sips, the liquid inside the glass creates a thick curtain which breaks into fat and thick clinging legs with no droplets left behind … just a well defined ring above the terracotta colored pool.

STAGG JR BATCH 17 FINISH:

The only departure from true balance is Stagg Jr Batch 17’s long almost hot finish. Yet I do feel barrel tannins and dusty grain in my mouth as the memory of plums and other dark dried fruits fade in the throat. The I feel the cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper prickle then become soothed by rich vanilla and brown sugar. There is also a fading taste of toasted almonds and dry old toasted oak, barrel char and leather. As I finish the pour, the empty Glencairn smells of dark sweet oak. I am both sad and pleased this glass has been emptied … it smells so good. Pour me some more.

MY RATING: 89/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
I will never pass on a Stagg product in whatever version it may be found.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 89/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Stagg.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Brian’s Whiskey Reviews
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LABELS, MARKETING AND AN OPINION

Stagg Jr Batch 17 is the last Stagg Jr to ever be produced. But, do not be alarmed … Buffalo Trace announced in mid-November-2021, the “Jr.” designation will be dropped from future bottle labels. The announcement comes on the heels of the decision to pull the George T Stagg (GTS) entry from the annual 2021 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.

In my mind, the change to new labeling is pure marketing. After a rocky three years following its inaugural release in the fall of 2013, Stagg Jr has taken on a life of its own. To many of us, Stagg Jr is on our unicorn list. We do not regard it as an offshoot of GTS. I dare say most of us have not had the pleasure of enjoying a pour of GTS, so we have no grounds for comparison.

While still allocated and hard to find, bottles of Stagg Jr are much more available than its so called namesake. All the while, Buffalo Trace has not treated either Stagg offering as a variant of the other.

Of course anything is possible, but it seams unlikely and costly for Buffalo Trace to make a drastic change in recipes or distilling and aging processes for a new product. There are likely thousands of barrels which would have set aside for Stagg Jr/Stagg bottlings laid down 8-10 years ago. Where would that product go if not to the Stagg line?

It is likely the new Stagg will continue to be allocated. And the new designation sets the stage for a price update. I would not be surprised if the Stagg MSRP adjusts up to align with premium Beam-Suntory, Brown-Forman, Heaven Hill, and other offerings. (Just not too fast please!}

Cheers!
– Brian