1792 Full Proof (Wrecking Ball)
What’s the best thing going on in the bourbon world right now? Single barrel store picks. If you’re a regular reader, then you know I’ve said this before (most recently in my review of a Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel store pick), but it bears repeating. While other people are hunting down impossible to find bourbon releases, you can find whiskey that is often just as good (or better) in the form a store picked barrel. Whether it’s Four Roses, Elijah Craig, Russell’s Reserve, or the subject of this review, 1792 Full Proof (or really any of the major bourbon makers), you can find some truly fantastic and unique single barrel bourbons (and rye) picked by or for your local liquor store.
In my review of the Barton Distillery’s 1792 Small Batch, I talked about how Small Batch is an example of great bourbon that’s still easy to find. And it is. I love the Small Batch, especially for the price point. But I also love barrel proof (or at least high proof) bourbon, which Small Batch is not. Luckily for us, Barton has a “full proof” expression of 1792 bottled at a hefty 125 proof (62.5% ABV). It’s not actually barrel proof, but it’s awfully close (it’s bottled at 125 proof to match the barrel entry proof used by Barton). Although it’s not quite as ubiquitous as Small Batch, bottles of 1792 Full Proof are out there to be found, with single barrel store pick versions becoming more common.
Fun fact about this particular bottle of 1792 Full Proof: it was bottled on the same day as the Barton warehouse collapse earlier this year. As has become trendy for store picks, this pick was given its own name—“Wrecking Ball” (appropriately enough). Picked by and for Elixir Spirits in Spring Hill, TN, Wrecking Ball was originally barreled on 12/18/09 and bottled on 6/22/18, making it about 8.5 years old.
1792 Full Proof Review
Type: Bourbon
Region: Kentucky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 62.5%
Nose
Fresh mint. Vanilla syrup. Dark chocolate. Rye spice. Spicy caramel. Astringent oak. Leather.
Palate
Big, rich, and spicy, with a wonderfully creamy and oily mouthfeel. Sweet mint. Rye spice. Slightly floral, with hints of lavender and rose. Burnt caramel. Crème brûlée. Butterscotch lollipop. Cinnamon latte. Oak. Leather. A bit fruity, particularly melon and apricot. Quite wonderful.
Finish
Long and spicy. Most of the notes from the palate continue, especially the oak, leather, and mint. Also a touch of sweet tobacco.
Overall
A terrific balance between fresh and lively vs. mature and refined. Much like the 1792 Small Batch, the rye notes in this bourbon are quite pronounced. The Barton Distillery is believed to use about 15% rye in their bourbon, and they really seem to get a lot out of that 15%. Lots of rye spice, fresh mint, and floral notes.
This bottle of Full Proof has a similar flavor profile to Small Batch, but ramped up a notch with quite a bit more depth and complexity. The oak and leather in particular give this bourbon a higher degree of sophistication. If you had told me this was a 12 year old bourbon or maybe even older, I probably would have believed it.
One of the best bourbons I’ve had this year. Really terrific stuff.
SCORE: 8/10
Final Thoughts
The Barton Distillery makes some terrific bourbon for bargain prices. At $50, this is hard to beat for the quality you’re getting. Although I haven’t had other 1792 store picks, I’m eager to explore more after the success of this one.
Buying Advice: You’re probably not going to find this exact single barrel bottle of 1792 Full Proof (it’s sold out), but keep your eye out for store picks from your local store. Well worth exploring.
Drink This Not That: Drink this. 1792 is some of the best bourbon on the market right now that you can easily find.
Questions about my scoring system? Refer to the Review Method & Scoring Scale page.
For more reviews, check out the Whisky Review Archive.
