Our tasting today is 1792 Small Batch Bourbon, or should we say 1792 Ridgewood Reserve or even 1792 Ridgemont Reserve? That’s right, this Bourbon has been through several changes, including removing the 8-year age statement a few years back. Supposedly, it is the same mash bill the whole time, but we have to believe the age went down. The name comes from the year Kentucky joined the United States. Made by Barton Distillery, which is owned by Sazerac, which, as it seems with everything, leads back to Buffalo Trace. From the Barton website, “Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky.”
1792 Small Batch sells for around $28, is an odd 93.7 proof, can be found pretty much anywhere Bourbon is sold, and comes in a stylish-looking corked bottle. All we could find out about the mash bill is that it is a high rye mash, which usually means 30-35% rye. As stated above, the age statement was removed, and we could not get an exact age for this Bourbon.
We are not fans of Bourbons taking off their age statement and being less transparent. It is also a little strange that they keep changing the name. That said, it is under $30, and we do like a high rye Bourbon. So, without further ado.
NOSE
Todd: Picking up subtle notes of wood, rye, barley, orange, and leather. Also, getting hints of spice and a little sweetness. Not terrible. Ice brought out a slight marshmallow taste.
Matt: Citrus hits me first but I can’t decide on orange or lemon. With that is slight aromas of hickory, rye, leather, and corn. Ice added a bit of milk chocolate.
TASTE
Todd: Good neat with some tastes of bread, orange, and oak. Strange, I don’t taste the rye I got on the nose and getting a lot of sweetness, including vanilla, chocolate, and caramel. Ice added nothing new but was good.
Matt: Agree, sweeter than what the nose implied with strong caramel and butterscotch. Also getting some pecan, leather, and rye. I lost the citrus from the nose. Ice brought out more caramel and a little vanilla.
FINISH
Todd: Medium long with spice, rye, and wood.
Matt: Medium with a nice spice.
OVERALL
Todd: I think this is a good bargain.
Matt: Pretty decent for the price. I wouldn’t regret buying again.
Nose 4 out of 5
Taste 7.25 out of 10
Finish 3.75 out of 5
Total score 15 out of 20 barrels.
Who cares if they change their name or remove age statements? 1792 has a decent nose, a somewhat complex taste, and a fine finish. It is okay, neat, better on ice, and even better in an old-fashioned. We feel you cannot ask for much more in an under $30 Bourbon. Do we put this up there with some of the finest Bourbons we have tasted? No, not even close, but there is not a ton of juice that we like at this price point.
Final verdict; a good product for what you are paying. Hate to sound like a broken record (probably need to find a more updated simile) but as we have stated a lot here of late, at this price point you should try 1792 Small Batch Bourbon yourself and see if it is to your liking.