Distillery: Barton 1792
Proof: 93.7
Age: No Age Statement
Mashbill: Undisclosed (High Rye 15-25%)
Price: $30
Company
Established in 1879, the Barton 1792 Distillery is the oldest fully operational distillery in Bardstown, KY. It’s situated on 196 acres and has 29 barrel aging warehouses. The distillery was named in honor of the year Kentucky joined the United States.
Production
According to their site, 1792 Small Batch is made from their signature high rye mashbill and barrels are carefully chosen by the Master Distiller.
Nose – 91/100
Lots of character with rye, ethanol, vanilla, and a hint of banana.
Palate – 93/100
The character carries over to the palate, which makes it taste a bit older than it actually (likely) is. Nothing super complex is happening here—rye spice, vanilla, and touches of caramel create a rich pour, especially when compared to other $30 bottles.
Finish – 92/100
Similar notes come through in the medium-lengthened finish. Vanilla, caramel, and rye spice. There’s a touch of fruit present that adds an unexpected nice touch.
Value – 99/100
There are very few bourbons today that provide this kind of value. At $30, 1792 Small Batch tastes older than most other bourbons in its category. It also has a very approachable profile that’s both sweet and a touch spicy.
Verdict – 93.75/100
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 95+
- Gold – 90 – 94
- Silver – 80 – 89
- Bronze – <80
Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.