1792 Small Batch Bourbon

Appearance: A shade between light and medium copper. Scent: Notes of leather, wood, a touch of alcohol, noticeable rye heat, and possibly even smoke from tobacco... Taste: Starts off sweet, with spice quickly arriving. It has a medium body. A mild burn on the way down with the initial taste, but it's manageable. Wood emerges on the subsequent sip. I detect many flavors found in other spirits from Kentucky. Sweetness like caramel? Vanilla? It's hard to say. Those are often used to describe such spirits. But perhaps there's a justification for it. Aftertaste: Somewhat brief, with a persistent spice and, what I'll call, wood smoke essence. Overall, a solid bottle. Prior to tasting this Small Batch offering, I sampled a barrel selection from a Single Barrel offering and their 12-year-old expression. I found both of those quite pleasing, and this one is no different. This particular spirit isn't particularly intricate, but I didn't anticipate that, given the cost and moderate alcohol content. Nevertheless, it's certainly a satisfying drink.

* Blind flight of 4 alongside Four Roses Small Batch, Woodford Reserve, Kirkland Small Batch * Nose: Richness with rye spice coming through, opening up into dark sweet candy like oaky caramel and molasses Palate: Sweet and somewhat rich, largely similar to the nose; caramel with subtle rye spices, rich candy sweetness, subtle oak tying things together Finish: Still fairly rich, fading somewhat into oakiness and a lingering rye spice Verdict: This has grown on me the longer it’s been open. This barely half-ounce pour finally killed the bottle, but it held its own in the blind tasting and should rightfully be considered the winner. Especially for how little has been left in the bottle for a while now! This bottle will need to be replaced.

[5.17.24] This isn't likely to be remarkable. I actually believed I had sampled it previously and, as it turns out, I never documented it. Nevertheless, my view has somewhat improved. The primary motivation for including it now was the delight of my mother-in-law locating it at the shop on its debut. She acquired a substantial amount and grouped this with the other finds. The anecdote alone justified its inclusion. A straightforward spirit. It possesses some sharpness and a peppery character, not as intensely oaken and woody as my prior recollection suggested, but leaning more towards autumnal spices like cinnamon. It's decent, not outstanding, yet satisfactory, and I'll recall enjoying this after tending to my in-laws' fish for some time.

SIIPPED STRAIGHT AROMA - Sweet and balanced. Caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon. The caramel and vanilla are intertwined and most noticeable, with the cinnamon in the background. TATSE - A very light, smooth mouthfeel. The aroma carries over to the taste effortlessly. It doesn't require much thought to identify the flavors. More caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon are present. However, the cinnamon becomes more pronounced towards the end. FINISH - Brief and sweet, with a spicy note. WORTH BUYING? - Yes. An excellent introduction to bourbon and a great choice for a daily drinker. WOULD I BUY AGAIN?? - Yes, it offers great value and a taste that won't disappoint.

The aroma here is definitely sweet, like vanilla extract or even fresh bread. It evokes the sensation of preparing dough for delicious chocolate chip cookies. A quick rush of warmth hits first, but the sweetness detected on the nose doesn't quite translate on the palate. Those flavors fade faster than I'd prefer. However, on the back end, there's a more bitter, leathery/tobacco taste. Overall, it's not bad, offering reasonable quality for the price.

Uninteresting. Maybe I'll sample the sweet wheat expression if I see it at a good price. This one tastes much like 101 Wild, just slightly better. I was underwhelmed by the 1792 offerings after seeing so much hype. I let it sit for 20 minutes in my tumbler but ultimately used an ice ball after a few sips, which helped a little. It wasn't enough to make it remarkable, though. For $30-$35, better choices exist. I definitely won't purchase it again.