A little background

Full Proof bourbon is a limited edition expression from Barton 1792 that was originally released in May 2016 as an attempt to create a high-rye bourbon with a more rich, robust flavor profile. The mash bill has not been disclosed, but numerous sources indicate that this bourbon is made from a mash of at least 15% rye. There is no age statement on this bottle, but the company’s original release stated that this juice spent 8 1/2 years in the barrel before undergoing a special filtration process, foregoing the traditional chill-filtration and instead simply passing it through a plate and frame filter. This bourbon was then proofed down to its original barrel entry 125 proof (this is not a barrel proof bourbon) and bottled in the traditional 1792 fashion.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Burnished Copper

Nose

There is a fair amount of ethanol present, but it does not completely overpower notes of rich vanilla, caramel, rye spice, heavy oak char, and some pleasant hints of fresh pear.

Palate

The mouthfeel is pleasant but average, despite the long, slow legs that form in the glass. A sharp rye spice dominates initially and ushers in plenty of alcohol burn. However, despite the burn this bourbon is surprisingly sweet on the palate, revealing notes of sweet corn, vanilla, dark fruit, and oak char.

Finish

The finish is long and hot. Through the heat, there is some peppery rye spice, caramel, musty oak, and a pronounced note of stewed pears that culminates in a somewhat bitter finish.

In conclusion

This full proof expression from Barton 1792 has plenty of pleasant flavor for a fair price and is a welcomed addition to the 1792 lineup. Despite the ethanol, the nose here was very enjoyable, especially with the crisp pear note, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a more sweet profile from this high-rye bourbon. However, this bourbon drinks hotter than expected and the proof really doesn’t help this pour. Unfortunately, the heat muted many of the additional flavors I was hoping to find, particularly in the finish, and in the end I was somewhat underwhelmed with the overall profile.