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1792 full proof single barrel review

1792 Full Proof Single Barrel Bourbon Broudy's Select

January 30, 2021

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1792 full proof bourbon broudy pick

Distillery: 1792 Barton

Type & Region: Bourbon, Kentucky, USA

Alcohol: 62.5%

Composition: 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% barley

Aged: ~7-8 years in virgin American white oak

Color: 1.3/2.0 on the color scale (russet muscat)

Price: $50

From the 1792 Barton website:

“Bourbon insiders have long acknowledged that full proof bourbon has a distinguished and rich flavor. This bourbon underwent a distinct filtering process,forgoing the typical chill filtration and passing only through a plate and frame filter. This allowed the bourbon to maintain a robust proof for bottling, as well as a full, rich and bold flavor. Bottled at its original 125 barrel entry proof, just as it was years ago when the barrels were first filled, 1792 Full Proof Bourbon is exceptionally distinct”

Company Website

1792 full proof single barrel overview

1792 Full Proof Bourbon is a near-cask strength bourbon from Sazerac, the same company that owns Buffalo Trace. While Buffalo Trace’s primary cask strength bourbon, Stagg Jr, is related to 1792 Full Proof, they are quite different (link here). But just like Buffalo Trace though, 1792 also does a number of single barrel selections, primarily of 1792 Single Barrel and 1792 Full Proof.


In this review, I bring 1792 Full Proof Single Barrel Bourbon selected by Broudy’s Fine Wine and Spirits. I really like the batched 1792 Full Proof Bourbon already, but single barrels always have a life of their own, often bringing different traits to the table as part of their individual nature. This is my first experience with a 1792 Single Barrel, so in this 1792 Full Proof Single Barrel Bourbon Broudy’s Fine Wine and Spirits Select review, let’s find out if this particular barrel brings any fun and interesting twists.  

1792 full proof single barrel smell

This 1792 Full Proof Single Barrel is unique off the bat – a lot of citrus, green grape, ripe peaches and apricots, baked apples, and honey with a little less vegetal spring greens, licorice, vanilla, roasted but not too burnt oak, and some thyme and doughy funk. After 40 minutes of resting in the glass, there isn’t much heat from the full 125 proof. The mashbill’s higher rye content really comes through, as well as an added fruitiness, both things that I like. While I admit that this is not quite the biggest or richest nose, it’s still very fragrant and enjoyable.

 

With swirling, I smell a fragrant blend of honey, citrus, roasted and funky vanilla buttercream, baked apples covered in cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg, ripe peach, apricot, and dark fruits. Peach and apricot add some dark and funky sweetness, and I think there are some berry notes, possibly raspberry. Either way, this 1792 Full Proof Single Barrel Broudy’s Select is quite fruity but still balanced with the oak, sugar, and floral / herbal notes. To the best of my memory, this is a little fruitier than the batched release, which is more oaky and spicy; and overall this smells great.

1792 full proof single barrel taste & aftertaste

The first sip brings a burst of caramel, cinnamon, baked apple, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, and chocolate followed by oak, licorice, citrus, and bubblegum. About halfway through, it becomes more apple-y. This 1792 Full Proof Single Barrel has a toned-down but similar oiliness to EH Taylor Barrel Proof and George T Stagg, which is also quite interesting. The flavors bold, flavorful, and enjoyable.

 

After “chewing”, I taste dense honey, white sugar, vanilla, candied citrus, apple, pineapple, licorice, anise, and just a little peach and minty dark chocolate. It’s very sweet, but has enough oak and wood spice to balance it out, as well as noticeable, but not overpowering, oakiness that’s part freshly sawn and partly charred. This single barrel has the same spiciness as the batched 1792 Full Proof, with a lot of cinnamon and clove, as well as some earthy oak, rosemary, and thyme. The heat provides a solid punch and the higher ABV provides a lot of extra flavor, but remains controlled. 1792 Full Proof Broudy’s Select is honestly not so complex, partially a symptom of the batched version also not being that complex, but I still find it very flavorful and interesting to drink nonetheless.

 

On the finish, I’m left with caramel, citrus, apple, licorice, green grapes, oak, and cinnamon, that over times fades into light citrus and licorice. After “chewing”, it’s sweet and spicy with honey, cinnamon, candied citrus peel, oak tannins, and apple, all fading into honeyed minty citrus after a few minutes. 

Place on the Whiskey Shelf

Top Shelf

Just like the standard 1792 Full Proof Bourbon, 1792 Full Proof Broudy’s Single Barrel Bourbon is fantastic. It’s still on-profile for 1792 Full Proof – sweet, oaky, and very spicy with an extra splash of citrus, peach, and apricot fruitiness, as well as a little more dark fruit sweetness and funk. It’s a small but welcome improvement over the already enjoyable standard Full Proof release, so this is another winner. That said from my small sample size of 2, I am starting to notice that 1792 Full Proof may tend to be a little more straightforward than say, Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Stagg Jr, or Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, but that is all very strong company and may be partially due to my personal whiskey preferences.

 

Since I don’t have much experience with these 1792 Full Proof Single Barrels, I can’t say whether this is one of the better store picks, but I can definitely say that this is one worth buying if you’re in the St. Augustine / Jacksonville, FL area…while it lasts. This one is probably gone at this point ($50 was a great price), but really any 1792 Full Proof single barrel bourbon for $50 or so is a compelling buy.

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