BACKGROUND: This 1792 limited release from the Barton Distillery, which was constructed in 1879 and is owned by Sazerac, was made under the requirements of the Bottiled-in-Bond Act of 1897, which means it is 100 proof, was made by one producer during one distilling season, and has been aged at least four years. First available in 2017, the 1792 BiB was ranked ninth in Whisky Advocate Magazine’s list of “Top 20 Whiskies of 2018.” This version of the 1792 BiB is a store pick by The Bottle Shop in Columbus, Georgia and cost $35.99. The 1792 is also available in other editions that include High Rye, Sweet Wheat, Single Barrel and Full Proof. Barton also produces bourbon for the the Very Old Barton, Kentucky Tavern, Chestnut Farms and Tom Moore brands, and contract distills for at least a handful of non-distilling producers. NOSE: The three predominant scents in the nose of the 1792 Bottled-in-Bond are bananas, bananas, and bananas. It is a nose that you would expect from Old Forester or other Brown-Forman products. When combined with the ethanol presence and some brown sugar lingering in the background, the nose smells exactly like a Bananas Foster flambe’. PALATE: The banana that exists on the nose is also present on the front of the palate along with some nice oak taste that appears on the back. Rich caramel flavor and, perhaps, some nuttiness reminiscent of a Jim Beam product appear, as well. It is a pleasant and balanced palate. FINISH: Muted pepper and rye appear on the finish, but there is no big spice bomb that goes off. It is a long finish that offers just the right amount of warmth, almost like finding the sweet spot when standing near a fireplace. FINAL ASSESSMENT: The 1792 BiB is neither too spicy, nor too boring. Instead, it’s just right. From palate to finish it offers just the right balance in both flavor and sensation. No matter the brand, I have never gone wrong with a bottled-in-bond bourbon, and the 1792 keeps that streak alive.