~$35 for 750mL bottle- Purchased from Chattanooga Wine & Spirits
Background
The Barton 1792 Distillery is the oldest fully-operating distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, having been established in 1879. The name pays homage to the year that Kentucky became a state…also the same year George Washington was elected to his second term as President of the United States.
1792 Bourbon is a high-rye “small batch” Bourbon blended under the supervision of the head distiller. They use a mash bill consisting of 74% corn, 18% rye, and 8% barley, which should impart a definitively sweet, but spicy, whiskey.
I bought my bottle of 1792 recently at Chattanooga Wine & Spirits. I believe I had tried it before, but I couldn’t find a record of having reviewed it, so I thought it was about time.
Notes
The 1792 was medium-amber color in the glass and had the classic vanilla and oak aroma to it, with just a touch of honey. It was a little thinner than I would have expected based on the appearance and a little hotter and spicier than expected for a 93 proof liquor.
I got honey sweetness and vanilla up front. The wood notes came in next and it finished with a pretty intense alcohol vapor spiciness. Subsequent sips revealed a little hard fruit like apple or pear, just a passing note, but nice nonetheless.
I paired the 1792 with a Punch Kung Pow!, part of the brand’s annual Chinese New Year release. It fired up medium-to-full and the sweetness of the cigar was enhanced by the bourbon, while the fire in the whiskey was tamped down a bit with the interaction with the tobacco.
Good pairing and a good Bourbon, although not one of my favorites, even in the “high rye” category. My palate does tend to favor the sweeter Bourbons, but even in the spicier expressions, I tend to like Basil Hayden, Old Grand Dad, and Redemption High Rye Bourbon better.
