1792 Ridgemont Reserve Bourbon Review

A friend recently went home to visit family in his old Kentucky home and was nice enough to bring us back a bottle of 1792. As you may know—I think that I have said it before—, the hubby and the brother-in-law love bourbon and currently they seem to be in a bourbon phase (after a long affair with another love, Irish whiskey). The 1792 got the bourbon brothers’ thumbs-up. As you can imagine, it took all of my persuasive wiles (and a now discovered hiding spot) to save enough to bring you a review.

This is a bourbon named after the year that Kentucky became a state, 1792! Brought to you by the Sazerac Group in 2002 (but forced to change the name to 1792 after a trademark spat with Brown Foreman that ended in 2004), 1792 is a premium, small batch, single barrel bourbon. This super premium category of bourbon is meant to compete with the single malts coming out of Scotland.

1792 is produced at the historic Tom Moore Distillery in the heart of bourbon country in Bardstown Kentucky. 1792 is aged for 8 years and bottled at almost 94 proof. 1792’s interesting quirk is that it’s the official toasting bourbon at the annual Kentucky bourbon Festival.

Visually, 1792 is clear with a pale light amber, golden color. On the nose, 1792 has a medium minus intensity (the nose is actually fairly faint for a bourbon) with sweet tones of caramel, vanilla, chocolate and a hint of orange. On the palate, the 1792 is smooth with a controlled fiery bite and notes of caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, crème brulée and chocolate. Long finish.

Very nice sipping bourbon. Would also make great cocktails where bourbon is the main ingredient.

Thanks, Charles!