1792 Full Proof Single Barrel – 1st Edition
This one tugs at the heart strings a little, I’m not going to lie. We selected this barrel back in 2017. Everyone told me I was a little nuts getting it bottled at 125 proof, but we wanted to give you the chance to taste what we tasted when the barrel was selected. Steve Hartman, head brewer at WoodGrain Brewing, helped me select this barrel, and it does not disappoint. Shortly after we received this barrel, the 1792 Full Proof (not store pick) was rated as a top whiskey from one of the multitudes of ratings and review groups. We were pretty stoked to learn we were ahead of the game, so now we bottle all of our 1792 Single Barrels at Full Proof, and they are always delicious. Among some of the best bourbons we have ever selected.
What is “Full Proof”? At 1792, the white dog enters the barrel at 125 proof. Over the course of 9-12 years, the bourbon gains in proof as the water evaporates. Before bottling the bourbon it is “proofed down” to 125, the same proof it went in at.
- Preparation: She’s hot, so cool it down for a sip, or just add it directly to ice.
- Glass: Glencairn or Double Old Fashioned
- Cocktail Potential: This was the whiskey that we used to develop the very first 3.0ld Fashioned, before we even knew it was going to be The 3.0ld Fashioned!
- Available: Nope. Long gone, so savor it! If you have a bottle of this still hiding in your cabinet, cherish it. It will have a JJ’s Medallion on it with no edition statement. We didn’t start that until #2
Tom’s Tasting Note: I think I said enough up top. From a flavor perspective it’s loaded with spice, caramel and toasty oak notes. A very well balanced bourbon, even at 125 proof. This was one of two bottles I had in my library stash. I am hesitant to open the other one, but damn, it’s so good.
I love 1792 full proof. I had a blind taste testing at my house last year (pre pandemic) and it was the favorite for most attendees, even over Stagg Jr, Blantons and other harder to find whiskeys. Wish I still had that bottle to compare to this single barrel. Thank so much for sharing one of your last two bottles.
I get to whip out my own 1792 full proof and do some side by side comparison. Mine isn’t single barrel though.
The nose is about spot on for both, the single barrel having slightly more of a alcohol punch.
More spice on the tongue with my personal bottle, but oddly more of an alcohol bite on mine as well. I would have thought the single barrel would have more of a kick judging from the nose. The single barrel is more nuanced, it has a longer evolving taste than the standard, almost a building of spices compared to a swift kick. Again, very similar but a nod to the single barrel for the little bit extra.
The finish on both is very long, spice/cinnamon on the sides of the tongue.
I like the single barrel pick more than my personal bottle, but it is still very close. I’d pay more for the single barrel, but not much more
I had not been much of a bourbon guy (I’m more into Islay Scotches), until Tom introduced me to 1792 a number of years ago. I don’t recall if it was the full proof or something else Tom got me started on, but it has been a staple on my Whisky shelf ever since. Thank you for sharing!
Notes of fruity pepper. I love 1792. By far the absolute best way to drink this is to pre-warm a glass on a grill while making burgers. It is amazing slightly hot.
That’s a spicy meatball. Love the caramel, vanilla, oak notes. Woof. Tasty and dangerous.