Hannah’s 1792 Full Proof Bourbon Review
Original review written August 15, 2020
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
The nose of this was fantastic, but sadly – while woody – I felt the palate lacked complexity and there’s a strange aftertaste I can’t seem to shake that I wish I could. 79/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Barton Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Full Proof
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: suspected to be Corn=75%; Rye=15%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #3.5
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 62.5% (125 proof)
– Non-chill filtered, however passed through plate and frame filters
– Price: $47.95 USD in Idaho
*Visit 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:
Have this one at a pumpkin patch on a warm, autumn day. The smell of hay and jug of apple cider in the central tenet (you know the one) will couple with the aftertaste well enough. Chat with other pumpkin patch goers and be sure to show off the perfect pumpkin you found!
Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash
NOSE:
Sweet, but inoffensive, caramel greets the nose first, with a dusty corn not far behind. Despite being 125 proof, the alcohol is not harsh, rather mixing with a white pepper and rye for a pleasant heat. This smells aged, with a buttery oak and seasoned leather inviting me to take a sip. There is also a nutty element; however, I can’t pinpoint the type. All I can say is that it’s soft and not bitter in the slightest.
Further draws coax out a brown sugar/maple combo that is warm and cozy. This combo, along with the aforementioned caramel, I can visualize a coating a subtly-flavored apple. Other than that, not much in the way of fruit is obvious.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Soft and light. Not much grit or fire at all.
– Balance: Heavy on the woodiness (but a light wood) with little else contributing to complexity.
– Visual: Tawny in color, there is a lingering crown, but minimal legs.
– Taste: A pop of heat and alcohol hit the tongue on the first sip, but it dissipates quickly. The heat is peppery, with definite rye notes. I find a light caramel flavor or maybe even a vanilla, but the dominating flavor to me seems woody… yet a weak wood. Yes, there’s new oak, but I’d also say that it’s quite piney.
The apple (red delicious I’ve decided) is still here, but I have to really hunt for it. I will also say that while the heat initially explodes, and the wood is present, it then falls a little flat with not a lot of complexity to be found. Occasionally, I’ll find a stray dark fruit, but is vanishes so quickly, I can’t identify it. Perhaps cherry?
A Kentucky chew definitely pulls out additional flavors: definitely cherry, white pepper and vanilla. It’s a great flavor combination – one that is always a win for me. However, I wish I didn’t have to feel the intensified alcohol burn of a Kentucky chew to get it.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Medium. There’s an aftertaste, but not much else. The lasting power after a Kentucky chew is longer, but the warmth only lingers on the sides of the tongue and nowhere else.
– Between Sips: Overripe apple with a grassy component lingers between sips. I wish I could say I liked it a lot, but I suppose it’s tolerable.
– No More: Cherries and a bit more warmth come out of the glass the further I go, but ultimately, I’m still not very impressed. The aftertaste of the apple and grass won’t go away, but other than that… dare I say that this a boring pour? Not like any other 125 proof whiskey I’ve had.
The empty Glencairn is a soft and buttery oak. Man, would I have loved to get this level of woody intensity in the taste. The woodiness in the empty glass is at least 5x stronger than in the palate itself.
WORTH THE PRICE?
Barton products, for me, have always been a hit or a miss. While 1792 Full Proof Bourbon isn’t a terrible pour, I find it somewhat boring, and I don’t think I would repurchase at the price found in Idaho.
RATING: 79/100
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