Barton 1792 Is Launching a New Wheated Full Proof Bourbon

Buffalo Trace is the Sazerac-owned distillery that gets most of the attention in the whiskey world, but its sister operation, Barton 1792, also happens to produce some excellent expressions. The latest release, 1792 Wheated Full Proof, is a new version of the distillery’s wheated bourbon recipe that is bottled at a much stronger 125 proof but will only be available in a few states to start.

The Barton 1792 Distillery, which is located in Bardstown, Ky., has been around in one form or another since the late 19th century (it calls itself the “oldest fully operating distillery” in the area). It was acquired by Sazerac in 2009 and has produced high-quality bourbon under its own name—and the Thomas S. Moore line—that is sometimes overlooked by whiskey fans. In 2015, the distillery introduced its 1792 Sweet Wheat expression, a wheated bourbon made from an undisclosed mashbill (something that is familiar to fans of Buffalo Trace), which some speculate contains around 15 percent wheat in the mashbill instead of rye grain. That whiskey is bottled at 91.2 proof, but the new Full Proof release clocks in at 125 proof.

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, “full proof” can be a bit confusing. It does not mean that the whiskey is bottled at the strength it came out of the barrel—that would be barrel proof, or cask strength. Full proof means it’s bottled at the strength it went into the barrel, which in this case is 125, the legal upper limit for bourbon. According to master distiller Ross Cornelissen, the point of this release is to show how the Sweet Wheat flavor profile can be augmented with a much higher level of alcohol. “Sweet Wheat has built a passionate following because of its distinctly smooth, rounded flavor profile,” he said in a statement. “With Wheated Full Proof, we wanted to take what people already love and show them another side of it. The sweetness is still there, but the higher proof brings greater depth and richness. For someone who already loves high-proof bourbon, this expression offers the kind of bold character they’re looking for. For someone just beginning to explore higher proofs, Wheated Full Proof is an inviting way to discover what higher proof bourbon can offer.”

We did not get a sample of this new whiskey to try yet, so we will have to rely on the distillery’s tasting notes. That nose starts with aromas of caramel and honey, followed by honeyed caramel, ripe stone fruit, tropical notes, and oak tannins on the palate, culminating in a long finish with notes of caramelized sugar, oak, and sweetness. 1792 Wheated Full Proof Bourbon will be available starting this November in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois in small 375-ml bottles (SRP $40).