Barton 1792 Just Dropped Its Oldest Bourbon Ever & First Rye Whiskey
The 15-year-old bourbon is bottled uncut and unfiltered at a massive 124.2 proof.
Sazerac’s Barton 1792 Distillery has announced two new whiskeys on sale this month, including a totally new mashbill and the oldest whiskey ever bottled by the brand.
Barton’s 1792 XV bourbon and 1792 Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey are the distillery’s first new releases of the year, marking the distillery’s first time bottling a 15-year-old bourbon, and its first rye whiskey. 1792 XV is a landmark release for Barton — the 15-year-old bourbon is bottled uncut and unfiltered at a massive 124.2 proof — one of the highest in the portfolio.
“This release wasn’t part of a planned experiment in barrel-proof whiskey,” said Master Distiller Ross Cornelissen in a press statement. “We noticed that several of our oldest barrels were developing extraordinary characteristics, with flavors and nuances that stood out on their own. That discovery inspired us to do something special, which ultimately led to the creation of XV.”
Tasting notes from Barton 1792 describe aromas of “sweet cola, leather and vanilla extract,” which lead to a palate of “dark cherries and cocoa, finishing with rich oak and dark caramel.”
Perhaps the more interesting bottle, however, is the distillery’s new rye mashbill bottled at 100 proof. Barton 1792 Straight Rye Whiskey is the first from the distillery, and they took some risks with it. Cornelissen and his team selected a high rye mashbill for the recipe, but elected to use the distillery’s familiar bourbon yeast to ferment the recipe, resulting in a lot of rye flavor, but a substantially fruity character to balance those flavors.
The distillery also acquired their rye grain from multiple sources — from Europe, Canada, and the northern U.S as well. According to the distillery, “Canadian rye contributes floral lift, northern U.S. grain delivers peppery spice, and European rye provides bready, herbal depth, resulting in a refined, multi-dimensional rye that anchors vibrant spice with aromatic elegance.”
Tasting notes describe the whiskey as opening with “aromas of warm baking spices and spiced fruit jellies that lead to a palate of assertive rye spice, cinnamon candy, and rich molasses. The finish is long and structured, marked by lingering mulling spices and gentle sweet oak.”
“We felt the rye reached its peak at 100 proof,” said Cornelissen. “Here, the whiskey showcases a seamless integration of rye spice, oak and yeast influence. Many seasoned bourbon drinkers turn to rye when they’re ready to explore something new. With 1792 Bourbon’s high-rye mash bill, this release offers fans a familiar spice profile with a recognizable rye character.”
Barton 1792 is arguably the most underrated brand in Sazerac’s portfolio of Kentucky bourbons, and that tends to result in a more spartan release schedule, so seeing two new releases in one year — even when one is a limited release — is rare.
Sadly, this rarity will also extend to the availability of 1792 XV. The bottle is limited to global travel retail, sold in 1-liter bottles at select airports. The SRP is $250, which is in keeping with industry rates for a 15-year bourbon these days — the need for a passport and an outbound flight are sadly not.
1792 Straight Rye Whiskey, on the other hand, should be much easier to find domestically. It’ll be released once a year for now, with a suggested price of $40. If you’re in a position to purchase either one, do it. This distillery rarely disappoints.
G. Clay Whittaker is a Maxim contributor covering lifestyle, whiskey, cannabis and travel. His work has also appeared in Bon Appetit, Men’s Journal, Cigar Aficionado, Playboy and Esquire. Subscribe to his newsletter Drinks & Stuff for whiskey reviews and trends, perspectives on drinks, and stuff.