1792 Aged Twelve Years (1792 12-Year)

A little background

1792 Aged Twelve Years (1792 12-Year) is the most recent of Barton 1792’s “limited edition” bottles, with previous releases including Sweet Wheat, High-Rye, Port Finish, and several others. Released in 2019, this bottling from the Barton 1792 Distillery starts with the same mash bill as the non-age-stated flagship bottling (1792 Small Batch), but bumps the proof up to 96.6 and provides a twelve year age statement.

(Tasted neat from a Wide-bowl Glencairn Glass)

Color

Amber

Nose

Notes of butterscotch and wood smoke rise to the top first, along with the most mild pinch of ethanol. After a moment in the glass, french vanilla also joins the party.

Palate

On the first sip, a rich toffee note is present, along with a touch of cherry. After the first sip or two, an bold oak note begins to grow.

Finish

The oak and toffee carry through to a medium-length finish that also includes some notes of candied pecans. The solitary note that lasts longest is certainly the oak, and it makes for a rather dry tail on the finish.

In closing

This 12-year release is a solid addition to the 1792 lineup, and at $50 per bottle it keeps in line with fair market value offered by other 1792 products. While I don’t love how hard it is to find, if I come across another one at retail price I will pick it up. The high-rye mash bill is far from spicy, but provides just the right balance to an otherwise sweet pour all the same.