A little appreciation for Barton

[BottledInBond]

It seems like Barton generally flies under the radar. Clearly not as heralded in general as it’s cousin BT. Not talked about as as much of a distillery tour destination as some others that are popular spots. No expensive annual LEs that go to auctions and drive people crazy with FOMO. 
 

But what do they do? They churn out VOB at a good price/quality ratio for a value brand. They keep 1792 small batch available at a reasonable price for something in a slightly nicer package. They make a single barrel. They make a BIB. They make a high octane product with Full Proof. They also make barrel picks available across all those.
 

They’ve also done a nice job of putting out periodic releases of other limited releases like the High Rye, Sweet Wheat, Port Finished, and more recently the 12 year. maybe not whiskey of the year contenders for those, but many people have seemed to like many of these, and they’ve done all of those at very reasonable prices. I think the most I’ve ever paid for a 1792 product was maybe $55 for the 12 year?

 

Any way, I was just thinking that while they aren’t often a main focus of our discussions, they’ve quietly done a nice job with some value, product mix, and consistent availability. Those aren’t words I would use to describe all producers these days.

 

What else do I hope they’ll do in the future? For me #1 is clearly a 1792 rye. They have a background of producing rye (see all the love for stuff like the 16 and 21 year ryes that High West built their brand with), and as far as I know they still distill rye at least one day a year to support the limited distribution Fleischman’s label right? (Honestly not 100% sure on that but I think it still exists) So age some of that rye longer and do it as a 1792 release Barton! Maybe even barrel proof? That’s #2 for me in general actually. Full Proof has gotten them some love but why not do a true barrel proof, NCF release? For that matter, how about a barrel proof NCF Sweet Wheat. With a decent age statement? A guy can dream.....

 

 

[JCwhammie]

They also have a nice tour. 

 

Just a few days ago I was thinking how much of a hit them bottling their rye would be. 

[Bbstout]

2 hours ago, BottledInBond said:

It seems like Barton generally flies under the radar. Clearly not as heralded in general as it’s cousin BT. Not talked about as as much of a distillery tour destination as some others that are popular spots. No expensive annual LEs that go to auctions and drive people crazy with FOMO. 
 

But what do they do? They churn out VOB at a good price/quality ratio for a value brand. They keep 1792 small batch available at a reasonable price for something in a slightly nicer package. They make a single barrel. They make a BIB. They make a high octane product with Full Proof. They also make barrel picks available across all those.
 

They’ve also done a nice job of putting out periodic releases of other limited releases like the High Rye, Sweet Wheat, Port Finished, and more recently the 12 year. maybe not whiskey of the year contenders for those, but many people have seemed to like many of these, and they’ve done all of those at very reasonable prices. I think the most I’ve ever paid for a 1792 product was maybe $55 for the 12 year?

 

Any way, I was just thinking that while they aren’t often a main focus of our discussions, they’ve quietly done a nice job with some value, product mix, and consistent availability. Those aren’t words I would use to describe all producers these days.

 

What else do I hope they’ll do in the future? For me #1 is clearly a 1792 rye. They have a background of producing rye (see all the love for stuff like the 16 and 21 year ryes that High West built their brand with), and as far as I know they still distill rye at least one day a year to support the limited distribution Fleischman’s label right? (Honestly not 100% sure on that but I think it still exists) So age some of that rye longer and do it as a 1792 release Barton! Maybe even barrel proof? That’s #2 for me in general actually. Full Proof has gotten them some love but why not do a true barrel proof, NCF release? For that matter, how about a barrel proof NCF Sweet Wheat. With a decent age statement? A guy can dream.....

 

 

If I see a TTB for a 1792 12 year Barrel Proof Rye I will need to take out a loan. 

 

I really liked the 1792 port. There was a store in the Dakota's that had a row full years ago and I only got 2. I think I got you a KC store pick there if I remember. They also had rows of EHTBP for $65. Those were the days I left some for others. These days I would have cleared the shelf.

[Harry in WashDC]

What with Beam messing with its BIB and Distiller's Cut just as I got used to them always being around as well as messing with KC and Baker's, I have been picking up 1792 BIB and BP, particularly the BP, lately instead.  Not a lot, but I now have one of them open regularly even if not sipped regularly and replace them quickly, 

[flahute]

3 hours ago, BottledInBond said:

It seems like Barton generally flies under the radar. Clearly not as heralded in general as it’s cousin BT. Not talked about as as much of a distillery tour destination as some others that are popular spots. No expensive annual LEs that go to auctions and drive people crazy with FOMO. 
 

But what do they do? They churn out VOB at a good price/quality ratio for a value brand. They keep 1792 small batch available at a reasonable price for something in a slightly nicer package. They make a single barrel. They make a BIB. They make a high octane product with Full Proof. They also make barrel picks available across all those.
 

They’ve also done a nice job of putting out periodic releases of other limited releases like the High Rye, Sweet Wheat, Port Finished, and more recently the 12 year. maybe not whiskey of the year contenders for those, but many people have seemed to like many of these, and they’ve done all of those at very reasonable prices. I think the most I’ve ever paid for a 1792 product was maybe $55 for the 12 year?

 

Any way, I was just thinking that while they aren’t often a main focus of our discussions, they’ve quietly done a nice job with some value, product mix, and consistent availability. Those aren’t words I would use to describe all producers these days.

 

What else do I hope they’ll do in the future? For me #1 is clearly a 1792 rye. They have a background of producing rye (see all the love for stuff like the 16 and 21 year ryes that High West built their brand with), and as far as I know they still distill rye at least one day a year to support the limited distribution Fleischman’s label right? (Honestly not 100% sure on that but I think it still exists) So age some of that rye longer and do it as a 1792 release Barton! Maybe even barrel proof? That’s #2 for me in general actually. Full Proof has gotten them some love but why not do a true barrel proof, NCF release? For that matter, how about a barrel proof NCF Sweet Wheat. With a decent age statement? A guy can dream.....

 

 

You are taking the words right out of my mouth for an upcoming post!

 

Agree with you all around. I picked a Full Proof with my local last year that ended up being one of the better bourbons of the year I had.

[DeepCover]

5 minutes ago, flahute said:

You are taking the words right out of my mouth for an upcoming post!

 

Agree with you all around. I picked a Full Proof with my local last year that ended up being one of the better bourbons of the year I had.

Did they happen to provide the age on the FP pick? I’m curious to know the age range on those. 

[CUfan99]

3 minutes ago, DeepCover said:

Did they happen to provide the age on the FP pick? I’m curious to know the age range on those. 

Most of the store picks I've seen have a barreled on date and a pick year on the sticker that works out to 7 to 8 years.

[flahute]

5 minutes ago, DeepCover said:

Did they happen to provide the age on the FP pick? I’m curious to know the age range on those. 

They did - you can tell the age via the barrel code on the sample bottles - but I don't remember off hand. I think it was in the 8-9 year range.

[DeepCover]

10 minutes ago, CUfan99 said:

Most of the store picks I've seen have a barreled on date and a pick year on the sticker that works out to 7 to 8 years.

Thanks, I’ve only had 2 store picks and haven’t seen dates listed.

[Phil T]

1 hour ago, flahute said:

 

 

Agree with you all around. I picked a Full Proof with my local last year that ended up being one of the better bourbons of the year I had.

Last year Adam and I decided to kill some time while in Btown on Saturday and headed over to Barton. While in the warehouse during the tour, the guide pulled some bourbon from one of several barrels sitting on the floor. Without a doubt, the best whiskey either one of us has ever tasted on a tour. And, the only time Adam drinks bourbon, is when he heads to the mother land with his old man.

[FacePlant]

As stated by Flahute above the 1792 FP was a hung winner for me last year. It too was a store pick and everytime I had a taste it was fantastic. In fact I would often go back on a different day, different mood, and I'm assuming after having different foods and it kept coming back...WINNER...WINNER! It was definitely one of my top great surprises of all the 2019 purchases. YUM

[0895]

Their tour is way awesome!

 

[GeeTen]

11 hours ago, FacePlant said:

.  . . . the 1792 FP was a hung winner for me last year . . . .

 

I always try to find my whiskey that's a "hung winner", too!    

 

[Richnimrod]

9 hours ago, 0895 said:

Their tour is way awesome!

 

You filled these at the sample bar???!!!!????   Wow!!   

They've gotten waaay more generous; though they've always been pretty good about serving an 'extra' pour of whichever one you might ask for, claiming to need another in order to properly analyze.

I do like their tour, though it can become a bit redundant after the 10th time or so.     Their rather-more-industrial, less shiny, and prepared-for-publicity structures appeal to me, while much of their grounds are quite inviting and relaxing.  Plus, if you're there at the right time (while they're drying the spent mash) the aroma is FABULOUS!

[Jazz June]

This has been discussed elsewhere on this board, but the conclusion was that Barton likely is the source for the CEHT rye. I'll also throw in praise for Barton and wishes for a clearly Barton distilled rye (1792 or otherwise). Hopefully with some decent proof and age; 6yr BiB rye maybe? Increased availability and/or variant expressions of their wheated mash bill and "high rye" mash bill would also be great.

[fishnbowljoe]

3 hours ago, GeeTen said:

 

I always try to find my whiskey that's a "hung winner", too!    

 

LMAO!!!!!!  

 

Biba! Joe

[FacePlant]

1 hour ago, fishnbowljoe said:

LMAO!!!!!!  

 

Biba! Joe

Too late to edit Joe.  That is funny but a typo I didn't catch. Thanks Frank. 

[Richnimrod]

1 hour ago, FacePlant said:

Too late to edit Joe.  That is funny but a typo I didn't catch. Thanks Frank. 

I liked it the way it was, Gee!     What was it expected to say without the typo(s?)?

Edited January 25, 2020 by Richnimrod

[fishnbowljoe]

2 hours ago, FacePlant said:

Too late to edit Joe.  That is funny but a typo I didn't catch. Thanks Frank. 

Let’s be “Frank” FP.    Heck, I could edit it, but ya gotta have some fun every once in a while. Sorry it was at your expense, but it was funny. I also agree with Rich. I like it the way it is.

 

Biba! Joe

[flahute]

9 minutes ago, fishnbowljoe said:

Let’s be “Frank” FP.    Heck, I could edit it, but ya gotta have some fun every once in a while. Sorry it was at your expense, but it was funny. I also agree with Rich. I like it the way it is.

 

Biba! Joe

Yep! It was too good to fix.

[FacePlant]

40 minutes ago, fishnbowljoe said:

Let’s be “Frank” FP.    Heck, I could edit it, but ya gotta have some fun every once in a while. Sorry it was at your expense, but it was funny. I also agree with Rich. I like it the way it is.

 

Biba! Joe

Come to think of it my best pours now have a new....narrative. 

[0895]

8 hours ago, Richnimrod said:

You filled these at the sample bar???!!!!????   Wow!!   

 

 

Not exactly.

It probably depends on your definition of "sample bar" though.

Also, which specific tour you take.

[fishnbowljoe]

14 minutes ago, FacePlant said:

Come to think of it my best pours now have a new....narrative. 

You might just be on to something FP. You may have inadvertently created a new phrase. Just think, when folks start wondering where the term “hung bourbon” came from, we can all say it started right here on SB, and that you created it!  

 

Biba! Joe

[Obeezy1Kaneezy]

Another “here here” for 1792FP.  Just a performer.  A real lunch pail bourbon with a motor that never quits.  A scrappy work horse with a lot of intangibles that gets the most out of its abilities. 
 

It’s like a white wide receiver in the NFL. 

[PowderKeg]

Big Ditto on most of the above, although I apparently have a minority opinion that FP comes off more often as hot mess to me than stellar.  Probably need to experiment with (a lot) more water or even ice, which I never do with anything else (beyond a literal few drops).  Total of all the variants, including the slightly dusty 8yr RR,  is @ two dozen 750s and 3+ handles opened or bunkered.  And unfortunately that doesn't include any 12yr or PF yet...  Throw in a few stashed handles and 750s of VOB BiB and Barton probably reps the most volume and labels in my stash.  Brown-Forman is a very close second with all the great OF variations plus ET BiB and CC 100pf.

 

The only down side to all the wonderful variations Barton has produced is that IMHO SmB has really declined from what 8yr RR was previously.