1792 Single Barrel Bourbon

From a specific store selection. Barrel number 8191. Appearance: medium to light copper. Nose: Oak, caramel, sweet. Palate: Medium body with a slightly creamy texture. Spicy and sweet, with a mild warmth. More prominent woodiness/oak tannins. A bitter cherry note appears at the end. Finish: Medium length with a buttery quality. This is very good. Given it's a store-exclusive, I'm considering purchasing another bottle before it's unavailable, as it's definitely worth repurchasing. I'm curious to see how it develops with further pours. I suspect this is a bottle that will change over time. My rating is a solid 3.75. I'm hesitant to award a 4 at this moment, as I reserve scores of 4 and above for bottles that immediately impress me. However, I wouldn't be surprised if I decide to increase this score before finishing the bottle. Added 6/30/23: Second tasting of this bottle... this time, the nose offered a distinct vanilla note and perhaps a trace of molasses. The palate remains consistent with spicy-sweet-oaky notes from my initial review. My score remains 3.75. A good bourbon for its price. 1792 has consistently met my expectations. Added 7/14/23: Finished the bottle. A pleasant peanut flavor emerged that was not present in the earlier tastings. The score holds at 3.75 stars, just shy of 4. I noted this week that my local grocery store sold out of this particular barrel selection, so it's officially completed.

A long time ago, an acquaintance purchased a bottle of 1792 small batch on impulse, and I recall finding it acceptable. Over the years, I've heard occasional mentions of the brand, but nothing widespread, as if it were a closely guarded secret. Alternatively, perhaps those mentioning it haven't explored the bourbon category extensively. We'll soon see. The aroma is strongly fruity, with sugary canned pears, apple skins, and bananas leading the olfactory experience with a burst of fruitiness. Beyond this, the aroma is quite restrained and subtle, offering faint hints of cotton candy, vanilla, and a light touch of cinnamon. The taste is not as fruity as the aroma suggests. It begins with creamy vanilla and caramel, and the baking spice emerges around the middle of the tasting, but not overwhelmingly so. As the tasting progresses, fruit notes are certainly present in the background, notably some of that pear, but its mid-palate arrival lends it a drier character. The finish is dry and spicy, with cinnamon, oak, and green peppercorns concluding the bourbon's generally fruity and sweet profile. This particular selection is quite mild and pleasant to consume. An excellent choice for individuals new to bourbon.

1792 Series (4th out of 10): Single Barrel Did you know: Barton 1792 possesses an impressive 30 barrel aging warehouses. Correction: 29. My mistake. Too soon? Nose: Banana, cream, sugar, menthol, mint. Palate: Caramel, brine, stone fruits, fruit punch, lemon, grass. Finish: Lemon, cherry, cinnamon, more brine, a touch of apple. This is a quality spirit, but it doesn't quite meet the expectations for a single barrel expression of a well-regarded whiskey (small batch). I often feel that small batches are a compromise, where the finest components are diluted with lesser ones for increased volume. This single barrel, however, seems to present the opposite scenario. It feels like one component of a larger recipe that is not yet complete. After trying four, I still don't see a reason to keep 1792 whiskey other than the small batch on hand, and that large bottle size is becoming more appealing. Edit: I recently mixed this single barrel with the small batch, and it actually enhanced the complexity and enjoyment. Anticipating the next in line: 1792 Single Barrel Store Pick, also known as beige neck 2.0

Barrel Pick, "North Carolina Select 2022" Opened for 5 months Nose - Smells of strawberry and cherry candy, light caramel, honey, Frosted Flakes, subtle oak, and a touch of ethanol. Palate - Tastes like cherry Jolly Rancher, berries 'n cream, honey crisp apple, diluted caramel, light cinnamon, and subtle rye spices. The finish is medium-short, with the initial hint of oak tannins, creamy vanilla and berries, and light ethanol. These are excellent for the price. I've always been satisfied with a 1792 Single Barrel, but its light and creamy profile means it's not usually my first selection. If you enjoy lower proof bourbon, this is a must-try and makes a great gift. It would be helpful to have some information about these barrels, but that's typical of Sazerac. They label or sticker a bourbon/rye as single barrel and people will search for it as if it's rare.

Nose: Cinnamon, butterscotch, banana, burnt wood, alcohol (and a bit too much of that). Palate: Caramel cream, butterscotch, milk chocolate, cinnamon. Finish: Significant heat during the transition. Burnt wood, banana, banana bread, cinnamon, a faint mineral bitterness, and a long-lasting brown sugar sweetness. This is my preferred Barton's expression. Actually, it's the only one I would purchase again, assuming I could find it at retail price - I've seen it both ways.

Aroma - abundant dark fruits and caramel are noticeable. Many notes of vanilla cake... lightly toasted marshmallow... Subtle hints of baking spices. A really pleasing balance. Solid. Taste - oak, hints of butterscotch, and at times even slight marshmallow. As it develops, the rye character emerges... baking spices, wintergreen. Overall - Considering its alcohol content, it has a really pleasant flavor profile, and the finish is better than average. In fact, I believe it drinks smoother than its stated proof, which makes it a bit more captivating for me. This is a genuinely nice bottle, and I would happily purchase it again at the $50 price point.