Posted on October 18, 2007 - by Eric
1792 Ridgewood Reserve | Rating 80
Brought to you by the Barton distilling company in Kentucky, 1792 Ridgewood Reserve is one whiskey that state should be proud of. There are two reasons people drink whiskey: 1) They love the taste and enjoy the explosion of flavor on their tongue with every sip. 2) They just want to get drunk so they think they are a whole lot cooler than they are when they are sober. If you don’t like the taste of whiskey and you just want to get bombed, buy a bottle of whiskey that comes in a plastic bottle with a screw top lid (See my fellow bourbon boy, Marc’s, reviews). However, if you do enjoy the taste of a good whiskey, try 1792 out. As I am more of a purist when it comes to whiskey, I always give the distilled liquid a chance by itself on the rocks. I was not disappointed as I poured a healthy portion of this whiskey on top of 3 chunks of ice and started sipping. This Kentucky whiskey is so velvety if it were socially acceptable I would drape myself in it. A seriously smooth flavor, you’ll be surprised as you are starting to pour your third glass and tell yourself, “Self, watch it or you are going to finish off the liter tonight.”
I did try a splash of water with a glass, but I would not recommend it. Sometimes a splash of water can bring out flavor, but I felt like it just diluted the taste of this one. If anything, just letting your ice melt a bit should soften it up enough for you. It comes in a pretty basic bottle with a neat tag on the back that tells you how long it was aged (this whiskey is aged 8 years) and who inspected it before it was put in the bottle. Not that it really matter if someone actually inspected it, but its nice to think there is a little bit of a personal touch that goes into each bottle. I guess that “personal touch” as well as the wonderful flavor make this whiskey a little pricey. It runs about $60 per liter.
I would normally encourage people to indulge in as much good whiskey as they want, such as polishing off a bottle in an evening. However, we are the boys of bourbon not the men of fancy whiskey who wipe their butts with Benjamin Franklins. Therefore, at $60 a bottle, I recommend sipping on a few glasses nice and slow and enjoy the flavor. After a few glasses, you can switch over to the “rotgut” brands and you probably won’t be able to tell the difference. By that time you’ll be telling girls that you are a producer and if they let you touch them on the thigh, you’ll make them a star. Point is, enjoy 1792 down to the last drop.
On a scale from one to ten, I will give it an 8. It gets points for its smoothness and general good taste, but it damn sure better be good for that much money. Bottoms up!
Proof: 93.7
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May 19, 2009
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OK boys,
I’m gonna have to trust you on your review of 1792. I’m not too much into bourbon yet. I did buy a bottle of Makers once. I saw the bit on Travel Channel or something and I thought the red waxy stuff was cool. I’m not sure how high you rate Makers, but you gave 1792 an 8.
I’m buying a bottle for a friend of a friend (sounds like a Jimmy Buffet song) and I hope she (they both, actually) likes it. If my girlfriend’s friend likes it, I just might get lucky. So now that you know all the important details of my life, I thank you for your time in sipping bourbon and hope that I will soon come to enjoy this myself.
Craig in NM
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October 10, 2009
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I recently purchases a 750ml bottle of the 1792 and found it to be really great stuff. I can’t really drink the rotgut, and have had bad experiences with cheap whiskey in the past, but decided to give the scotch a break while I explored in bourbon for a while. On a recomendation I picked up an 8 year bottle for the unheard of price of $20 at a local bottle shop, took it home and gave it a shot. Bloody good whiskey. I’d give it an * too, even when stacked next to a fine single malt, she still holds up. Just the right amount of alch. 46%, and no harsh or bitter notes to be had. Thank you Ridge, a fine drink indeed.
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November 23, 2009
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Thanks for the review, Eric. I think you paid too much at $60. I paid $20 for 750ML. At that price this bourbon is an awesome bargain. I prefer Woodford Reserve and Basil Hayden, but I’m currently unemployed, so $20 bourbon it is. I get a nice citrus note on the first sip and the relatively high alcohol content does not come through as harshness. Gentlemen, we have a winner.
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December 10, 2009
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As an individual who has been blessed with visiting most of the bourbon distilleries in the area (Louisville native for 12 years,) I must agree with your review. This bourbon is extremely smooth on the finish, tastes better with ~20 minutes of settling time in the glass, and doesn’t leave you with a nasty feeling after a few too may glasses the next morning. I am currently enjoying this with the tiniest spritz of a ginger-based simple syrup I keep handy but have lavished in it’s solitary depth of flavors not enough times to count.
Lastly, at $60 a litre you were robbed as I can find this nectar for between $20 and $30 at my local spirit shops.
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January 20, 2010
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I am sipping 1792 as I write this review. I dont mix it with anything, just take it straight and at room temp. This is by far the best whiskey for the money. Although you may have been robbed at $60 I would still probably pay $40 ish. The smoothness is very relaxing and natural flavors stick around after the glass is empty. Defiantly not one of those whiskeys to “shoot” but rather enjoyed so that as you process the taste you may process your day.
Great review, i completely agree! Thanks for giving insight to a great bev.
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June 8, 2010
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Had a taste at a trendy bar a few weeks back before a gig. Great stuff and i will be adding this juice to my homebar this week.