1792 Bourbon Review Archives – Whiskey for the Ages

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Mash Bill: unpublished (Marketed as “High Rye,” and believed to be 15-25% rye)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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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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Whiskey Reviews

1792 12 YR Old Bourbon Review

Posted on 09-January-202027-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s 1792 12 YR Review

Original review written on January 7, 2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

A very good bourbon at a decent price, 1792 continues to show its worth in the 12 YR variety. If you can find it, secure yourself a bottle. Read on for my full 1792 12 YR review! 89/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Barton 1792 Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: 12 Years
– Mash Bill: undisclosed; 1792’s high rye recipe
(possibly Corn=75%; Rye=15%; Malted Barley=10%)
– Casks: New charred oak; Char #3.5
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 48.3% (96.6 proof)
– Price: $39.95 USD in Idaho

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

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

On a brisk, freezing morning on the slopes of a snow-covered mountainside, 1792 12 YR will warm you up and bring you into the peaceful equilibrium with nature. The cold washes over you and brings into question your definition of clean and pure, but the whiskey keeps your senses fresh and perfectly crisp.

Photo by Luca Lago on Unsplash

NOSE:

I’d say the overarching theme is a combination of plant material and general sweetness. I find fresh herbs like mint and maybe basil, but there is also caramelized sugar and maple syrup. There’s a dark vanilla custard here as well that mixes with rye. Very little alcohol burn and very little fruit; if I squint, maybe I get chocolate covered orange, but that’s a big “if” and a major squint.

Not much in the way of oak, but the mind lends itself to a eucalyptus sensation, which isn’t unpleasant.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Rough and a little gritty – my favorite qualities
– Balance: Lots of spice, but none are overwhelming the other flavors.
– Visual: Mahogany in color, there are long legs that cling to the glass, but there is no crown.

– Taste: The rye fools you into thinking this a higher proof, but as it blends into a Fuji apple, it mellows. Subsequently, sips bring out white pepper and crystallized ginger. While there are strong flavors, somehow grass seeps out too. And the herbs don’t stop there, with fennel and anise seed making the bourbon fresh and cleansing.

There’s a hint of brown sugar, and it mixes with the aforementioned apple, but more so with apricots or perhaps peaches. Given the rough texture of the mouth feel, I’d be inclined to say peach.

Barrel char with a leather-like bite is there too – without even needing a Kentucky chew. But when I do go for that Kentucky chew, I get heavy rye, leather, and a single-candy corn. Very interesting and quite a full-bodied bourbon.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Very long. The warmth just lingers everywhere the whiskey touches, leaving me with quite a happy feeling.
– Between Sips: It is mostly grassy, along with a strong traditional bourbon warmth. I can’t find much else.

– No More: The flavors stay pleasantly constant throughout the glass which I do appreciate in a whiskey.

The empty Glencairn is a rich oak with the rye lasting all the way to the very end.

WORTH THE PRICE?

At around $40, you cannot go wrong. I loved this and would buy it again.

RATING: 89/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

To access other whiskies with this rating, click 89/100.
Click 1792 Barton to see other whiskies from this distillery.

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