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– Mash Bill: unpublished (marketed as “High rye” and believed to be 15-25% rye)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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