1792 Series (3 of 10): Bottled in Bond Store Pick Did you know: Although the Bottled in Bond Act is typically branded as an “everyone wins” moment in the history of consumer protection, there was serious opposition. The biggest name I’ve found was Isaac Bernheim, founder of IW Harper, but given that only a fraction of American distilleries were producing what modern drinkers would call bourbon, a huge part of this early bourbon market must have been controlled by rectifiers, blenders, and scam artists. This opposition attempted to brand this act as monopolizing the whiskey market for distillers and as an attack on blenders and rectifiers, and ultimately, they failed. Although prohibition disturbed the chain of events to follow, I’d have to side with Colonel Taylor on this one. 125 years later, we still have blenders, we still have a version of the rectifiers, and when I buy a bottle of bourbon, I’ve never once had to wonder if I’m about to consume tobacco spit mixed with sulfuric acid. Winning. Nose is a bit fainter than the standard BiB. There is still sugar, banana, and yeast. Still alarmingly reminiscent of Jack or Woodford. What’s unique to this is the dominance of sugar. I don’t like this nose, but I’d call it an improvement. Body is very true to the nose. It’s sweet sugar, bananas, vanilla. It’s a banana float with whipped cream on top. Huge departure from the standard issue BiB here. Finish is cinnamon and pit fruits. Cherry, sangria. Fruit punch. Great finish. Almost tastes like a port finish. Compared to the standard BiB, this pick somehow shifts the flavor experience toward the finish. It’s different, and if you are really into the banana & yeast side of bourbon (Jack Daniels, Woodford, etc.) you would like this pick a lot. It’s a refined version of those “bottom shelfers.” For me, this one is much more generic and less interesting, and given the fact that it was more expensive due to its store-pick sticker, it’s a poor purchase in my opinion. Store picks will vary, just be wary. You might come home with something pricier and less special. However, I will give 1792 and my local store some credit for creating a noticeably different experience from the standard BiB. Looking forward to the next on-deck: 1792 Single Barrel, aka beige neck.