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