1792 Cognac Cask Finish Bourbon Review (2025)

 

One of the first Bourbons I ever tried was 1792 Ridgemont Reserve. Distilled by Barton 1792 Distillery, it once carried an 8-year age statement. That age statement and the words “Ridgemont Reserve” were dropped at the end of 2013.

 

I’ve apparently never reviewed 1792 Small Batch. Every so often, I run into situations similar to this with other legacy brands. I don’t understand how that happens, but, obviously, it does.

 

Barton 1792 Distillery was founded in 1879 and is the oldest, fully-operating distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. It began as the Thomas Moore Distillery, which Thomas Moore founded on land adjacent to the Mattingly & Moore Distillery. The latter fell into bankruptcy in 1916, and Moore acquired it to expand his operations. Then, in 1944, the distillery was acquired by Oscar Getz, who renamed it Barton Distillery. Constellation Brands took control in 1993, and in 2002, it added "1792" to the name to reflect the year Kentucky was admitted as a state. Finally, Sazerac became its owner in 2009.

 

Barton 1792 has recently become a significant source of many non-distilling producing (NDP) brands. It also produces many brands of rum, schnapps, vodka, mezcal, and gins that you’ve likely heard of.

 

It also, famously, suffered a rickhouse collapse in 2018 that held roughly 20,000 barrels. Two-thirds of those barrels remained intact. Still, that’s a lot of whiskey that was lost.

 

Today, we’re going to explore the newest incarnation of 1792 called Cognac Cask Finish. The barrels came from the top floors of the rickhouses, which are typically the ones that age the quickest due to the heat and humidity. Once matured, the Bourbon was transferred to former Cognac casks, where it rested for a minimum of six months.

 

“We’ve experimented with a range of premium cask finishes, but Cognac immediately stood out for how naturally it complements our Small Batch Bourbon. Extended finishing in Cognac casks reveals dessert-like notes and layered complexity, while showcasing the full-bodied character of the Small Batch Bourbon and its signature high-rye recipe.” – Ross Cornelissen, Barton 1792 Master Distiller

 

1792 Cognac Cask Finish is slated to be a permanent fixture in Barton 1792's lineup. So, how does 1792 Cognac Cask Finish taste? Luckily, Barton 1792 was kind enough to send me a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and see what it has to offer.    

 

• Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Cognac Casks
• Distiller: 1792 Barton
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley
• Cooperage: 53-gallon, new, #3.5 charred oak barrels, then six months in former Cognac casks
• Alcohol Content: 47.5% ABV (95°)
• Price per 750mL: $37.99

 

Appearance: I poured 1792 Cognac Cask Finish into my Glencairn glass with the intention of sipping it neat. Its orange amber appearance led to a skinny rim with tightly packed, thick, slow tears.

 

Nose: I gave this Bourbon about 15 minutes to breathe. Once that passed, I brought the glass beneath my nose and inhaled. The fragrance included caramel, chocolate, leather, and dried apricots. I drew that air into my mouth and encountered the taste of bananas and torched vanilla.

 

Palate: The first sip provided a dense, creamy texture. There was no palate shock. I found notes of caramel, vanilla, and bananas on the front. The mid-palate was fruity, with dried apricots, cherries, and ripe plums. Flavors of oak, leather, and sweet tobacco were on the back.  

 

Finish: The tobacco, leather, apricots, bananas, and caramel resulted in a medium finish that lasted 1:18. There was some Cognac-inspired warmth that lingered throughout. It was steady until the end, and then, instead of fading away, it fell off a cliff.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: 1792 Cognac Cask Finish was atypical of a classic Cognac finished Bourbon. I’ve had many of them, and the Cognac notes were easily identified. I didn’t find many with Barton 1792’s, yet, that’s okay. Why’s that? Because it is a delicious pour. I don’t know if it is due to the top floor aging or if the Cognac casks were on the dry side. On one hand, I’m curious. On the other hand, it doesn’t matter.

 

I loved the mouthfeel and rich flavors that the 1792 Cognac Cask Finish provided. There were definitive layers. The Bourbon drank right at about its stated proof. Add in the affordability factor, and this one is a slam-dunk Bottle rating. I’m just thrilled it isn’t a limited-edition release. Don’t pass this one up. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.