Wow with all the hype about 1792 full proof I'm a bit disappointed as this falls short for me of the sweet wheat, small batch and single barrels both distillery and store picks. Nose is all dusty corn sweetness and ethanol which is hard to get past. Buried behind that you get hints of a rich thick caramel and vanilla extract. No other typical barton/1792 distillery notes of banana runts and bubble gum other that the corn sweetness but then again that's in quite a few bourbons. The taste and finish are this bourbons redemption from a 2 point something bourbons. The ethanol punch is still there but there's just as much caramel, the texture is almost syrup in mouth feel, the vanilla shows up as does a light touch of wood and apple, the rye spice in this bourbon adds to the burn the ethanol provides. Finish is long with the corn sweetness, caramel, and wood hanging around the longest with just a hint of the rye spice for accent. Water/ice does tame the ethanol on both nose and palate but doesn't really allow for much else to come through. The notes that are there though don't go away either. This whiskey stands up to water and ice beautifully. Only other note with ice/water is the wood notes do ramp up a little bit and the finish does shorten and the syrup mouthfeel also lessens. Just seems to me like 1792 has better offerings and value wise Barton bottled in bond has the same ethanol punch closer proof at 100 vs 125 and costs $19 vs even MSRP of $45. Is 25 proof points and syrup mouthfeel worth $30????