I recently came across this selection from the Barton Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. We enjoyed the upsell from the small batch release –1792 Bottled in Bond – and wondered how this more affordable and readily available version stacked up.
A Tribute to Statehood
1792 Bourbon is named in honor of the year Kentucky gained statehood. The Barton Distillery positions 1792 as a premium brand that competes with the likes of Knob Creek and Woodford Reserve. When introduced, 1792 carried an 8-year age statement. However, that was struck in 2013 and was replaced with the small batch moniker.
The Tasting
1792 Small Batch is botted at 93.7 proof. Similar to other members of the Sazarec family, they’re mum on the mash bill other than it is “high rye” expression (which is generally thought to be in the 15-25% range).
Eye: Tawny brown.
Nose: Smooth with caramel, vanilla pudding and light oak.
Palate: Sweet with more vanilla and caramel followed by rye spice and honey-soaked raisins. Nothing too far out of the norm here. It’s straight forward without a ton of complexity.
Finish: Medium in length. Relatively smooth with more cinnamon spice and vanilla.
Overall: In the $25-$32 price range, this is a decent pour. It’s not overly complex, but it does face serious competition from brands carrying age statements like Knob Creek 9-Year and Russell’s’ Reserve, and even the likes of Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond.
