Kirkland Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon by Barton 1792

I am not the guy to grade cheap whiskey on a curve. I’ll talk about value and I’ll ***** about a bad value, but these concepts won’t affect the score. That’s the goal anyway. But then there’s this black hole of a whiskey. 1792 juice for $20 a liter. The natural laws of the universe begin to break down when you approach it. Nose carries a faint hint of the fruit punch note I always get on 1792 small batch. There’s also grain. It smells young. Bit of brine. Faint, dissipates quickly. Body is fruit punch, oats, vanilla. Finish is chocolate, more oat. Fruit punch lingers. I freaking love this whiskey. It’s less dynamic than my beloved 1792 small batch, and it tastes young. But it’s so good. It’s the Ancient Age of the 1792 world. I hate how much I love it, because it’s genuinely challenging to be certain that my favor isn’t tainted by the novelty of this being the BEST VALUE BOURBON ON THE MARKET. Big claim. I stand by it. Next I get to try their green bottle: 1792 bonded juice, still Kirkland. 😎

Aroma is bright, lots of apricot with an undercurrent os smoky molasses. First taste: lots of mellow fruit, a definite lightness in the taste buds, but solid mouthfeel. Smooth, without being bland. Solid lingering mid taste, really stays longer than you'd expect from the fresh high notes. Some spice, emerges quietly towards the end, staying in the back of the mouth and throat. Never gets too hot, but it stays for a long lingering stay. This is a definite keeper. It may not be a favorite, but it's irresistible at this size and price.

Pale straw. Lots of legs, but leaves some hanging on the glass. A bit hot on the nose. A good deal of rye; sweet hay, light caramel, vanilla and a hint of coconut. Salty peanuts, butterscotch and some spice. A bit of sweetness sticks around... Although nothing special, it's dangerously drinkable. The medium finish and peanut butter notes make me want to take another drink fairly quickly. A terrific value.

Nose has bubble gum of all things, very clearly right off the bat. Edges are nice, smooth woody notes. Bubble gum sweetness throughout. I really do think the flavor is solid. Has that stinging flavor throughout the middle that I’m not a huge fan of and finishes with a decent linger on the dry wood side of things.

Nose: Caramel, cinnamon, vanilla, peanut butter, brown sugar, oak, corn, and rye spice. Palate: A bit thin but carries some flavor. Vanilla, cinnamon, caramel, peanut brittle, and some cherry. A good basic bourbon at a great price.

Somehow this review got deleted, not that it matters much. Not a very good whiskey. Ethanol, astringency and bitterness overpower any of the good, sweet, honey, cinnamon and apple notes. Rough finish puts the nail in the coffin.