Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Bourbon – Review

Ridgemont Reserve 1792 BourbonRidgemont Reserve 1792 Barrel Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

93.7 Proof

Price Point: $25 – $35 for 750 ML

Distiller: Barton Distilling Company

 

Background

 

A couple of years ago, I was attending a bourbon tasting at a micro-brewery in my area.  Samplings were available from Heaven Hill, Brown-Forman, and couple of others, but the Sazerac booth was by far the most popular.  The usual suspects were there – Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, and of course a select few of the Antique Collection.  One newcomer was present; Ridgemont Reserve.  I had tried it previously, but had not seen the reaction of others tasting it for the first time.  I remember one particular gentleman who couldn’t get enough of it.  Maybe it was the three-hour session of free whiskey, but he was having a good time, and couldn’t stop singing the praises of this bourbon.  As my palate has evolved since then, I’ve done my best to appreciate Ridgemont Reserve a bit more than I used to.

 

Review

The nose alone separates this from most other bourbons.  It has the rye-spice aroma of a Jim Beam product, but with a little something extra.  It smells very sweet too, almost to the point that sugar was added – although we know that can’t be true.

I have to say – my opinion of this bourbon has changed since I first tasted it.  This is a very nice whiskey with plenty of spice to make it interesting.  Very sugary, as the nose suggested, but not too much.  The taste is very nice; very well-balanced from oak to spice to sweet.  It’s definitely different than any other bourbon on the market right now.

Because of how sweet this whiskey is, the finish is almost like a rum with some sugarcane qualities.

 

Rating & Recommendations

Ridgemont Reserve 1792 is a very good bourbon, earning a rating of 87 out of 100.

I like this one neat, but a little water can help tame the beast and bring out some great flavors.  Feel free to try it both ways!

This is definitely a unique bourbon, and worth a try.  At a price of around $30, how can you go wrong?

 

-Ryan

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    • Barlee on January 25, 2013 at 4:53 pm
    • Reply

    I’m with you on this one Ryan. A friend of mine from Lexington, Ky. was singing the praises of Woodford, + Knob Creek -(which I also like)- and I encouraged him to try the 1792. I feel that it’s very underrated as a bourbon. We get it herein central Fla. for about $25.00. It’s one of the few that I enjoy neat.

    • Charles Shaulis on February 28, 2013 at 11:58 pm
    • Reply

    Hello, Ryan.

    I found your review of the 1792 Ridgemont Reserve Barrel Select while I was scrolling through your Reviews list tonight. The “Toast of Kentucky” is also in my stable of bourbons that I will buy again after my current bottle is gone. It sells for $29 here in Maine and $27 in New Hampshire. Like you, I find that I don’t have the heart to dilute it with ice or water, which is an exception to my bourbon-on-the-rocks-scotch-neat rule. I might also suggest the Jefferson’s Reserve Small Batch expression that is a bit more upscale (I can only get it in NH for $50) as another bourbon to enjoy neat. Maybe it’s time to build an addition to your liquor cabinet.

    Regards,

    Chuck

    • Fast Eddie on July 24, 2014 at 5:21 pm
    • Reply

    I have enjoyed two bottles of Ridgemont Reserve 1792. I have enjoyed each immensely and will buy another to add to my liquor cabinet. Great stuff!

    • Burr Bone on July 28, 2014 at 1:35 pm
    • Reply

    My latest bottle of 1792 looks like the one in this article, almost empty. Time for another. First time I even heard of this one, I was driving home from Memphis and slipped into Bardstown, KY for dinner. Saw the distillery and made a point of finding the product at the store. Fell in love with it from the first sip and it’s my go to for a neat drink. Just something very pleasing and satisfying for my old taste buds, much more than many I’ve tried.

    • Tom on April 1, 2015 at 3:18 pm
    • Reply

    I am horrified at the price u now charge for a 1.75
    It has gone up 100 percent to 65$ a bottle. Are u kidding me?
    The sheer greed alone makes me walk away from your product forever.
    I am truly disgusted.

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