Barton 1792 whiskies

History

The distillery was built at the end of the 19th century in Bardstown, beside a spring that still supplies its water, and has had several names and owners over its history. For much of the 20th century it was known as Tom Moore and then as Barton, the name of one of its brands. In 2009 it was bought by Sazerac, which strengthened the 1792 brand, born years earlier under another name, and expanded it with versions of different strength and age. The distillery keeps multi-storey warehouses spread across a large estate, where the barrels mature at different temperatures.

House style

1792’s bourbons have a recipe with plenty of rye, which gives them a spicy, balanced profile: caramel, pepper, vanilla, fruit and present oak. The higher-strength versions, such as the Bottled in Bond or the Full Proof, add intensity, dark fruit and chocolate. They are full-bodied bourbons, more spicy than sweet, that work well neat and in classic cocktails. The higher-strength versions benefit from a few drops of water or an ice cube, which open up the sweetness and soften the alcohol.

Where to start

Start with 1792 Small Batch, the house’s benchmark bourbon, balanced and full of character. If you like it, the Bottled in Bond version offers more intensity, and the Full Proof is for those after a powerful bourbon. Compare them with Buffalo Trace’s, from the same group, to see two styles from the same house.

• 1792 Small BatchBourbon · 46.9% ABV
• 1792 Bottled in BondBourbon · 50% ABV
• 1792 Full ProofBourbon · 62.5% ABV