There's a certain kind of whiskey drinker who has tried everything on the shelf twice over, and for that guy, a new bottle from a distillery he already trusts is worth paying attention to. Barton 1792 Distillery, the folks who've been making whiskey in Bardstown, Kentucky since 1879, just rolled out two brand new expressions that are worth knowing about before they're gone from store shelves or sold out at the airport. One is a rye whiskey, the brand's very first. The other is a 15-year-old bourbon that's the oldest thing they've ever bottled, and it comes at full cask strength, uncut and unfiltered. Together they mark a pretty big moment for a distillery that's been quietly building a reputation as one of the most decorated names in bourbon country.
A Distillery With Some Serious History Behind It
Barton 1792 Distillery isn't some new kid trying to cash in on the bourbon boom. This is the oldest continuously operating distillery in Bardstown, which people in the industry call the Bourbon Capital of the World, and that's not a title handed out lightly. The place sits on 196 acres and includes 29 barrel aging warehouses, a still house, and a natural water source called the Tom Moore Spring that's been part of the operation for generations. It's owned by Barton Brands, which falls under the Sazerac Company, one of the biggest spirits companies on the planet with more than 400 years of history behind it.
The distillery has been racking up hardware lately too. At the 2026 Denver International Spirits Competition, 1792 Full Proof was named the top-rated spirit of the entire competition and took home the only Platinum Award given out. 1792 Single Barrel wasn't far behind, landing Best of Show in second place, and five more expressions from the lineup brought home Gold medals. That's the kind of track record that makes a guy pay attention when the company says it's adding something new to the family.
Tyler Smith, who serves as Brand Director of 1792, put it simply when talking about why the distillery keeps pushing forward. "Refining and reimagining our whiskey-making process has opened the door to new flavor possibilities," he says. "With these releases, we continue to grow the 1792 brand, building on our nearly 150-year legacy while expanding the portfolio in ways that excite both longtime fans and new whiskey enthusiasts."
The Brand's First-Ever Rye Whiskey
Image credit: Barton 1792 Distillery
For nearly 150 years, 1792 has built its name on bourbon. Now the distillery is stepping into rye territory for the first time with 1792 Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. This isn't a limited one-off either. It's set to become a regular part of the permanent lineup, released annually, and it's already showing up in select markets through Sazerac's distributor network. The price point is friendly too, with a suggested retail of $39.99 for a 750ml bottle, though taxes and fees will bump that up depending on where you're buying it.
What makes this rye interesting is how it was built. On paper, the distillation and barrel entry proofs are the same as what goes into 1792's bourbons. But rye grain is a different animal to work with, and it demands more careful attention during mashing and fermentation if you want it to actually taste like something instead of just burning hot and spicy with no depth.
Master Distiller Ross Cornelissen made a choice that shaped the whole character of this whiskey. Instead of going with a neutral yeast like a lot of rye producers do, he stuck with 1792's own signature bourbon yeast strain. That decision brings a fruit-forward sweetness into the mix that helps tame the rye's natural intensity. On top of that, the rye grain itself is sourced from three different places around the world, and each one brings something different to the glass. Canadian rye adds a floral quality. Rye grown in the northern United States delivers that classic peppery kick people expect from rye whiskey. European rye rounds things out with a bready, herbal note. Blend all three together and you get something with more layers than your average rye.
Bottled at 100 proof, the whiskey opens up with warm baking spice aromas alongside notes that remind you of spiced fruit jelly. On the tongue, expect assertive rye spice, cinnamon candy, and a heavy dose of molasses. The finish sticks around a while, with mulling spices and a soft, sweet oak character carrying it out.
Cornelissen explained why 100 proof was the sweet spot for this release. "We felt the rye reached its peak at 100 proof. Here, the whiskey showcases a seamless integration of rye spice, oak and yeast influence," he says. He also pointed out who this bottle is really for. "Many seasoned bourbon drinkers turn to rye when they're ready to explore something new. With 1792 Bourbon's high-rye mash bill, this release offers fans a familiar spice profile with a recognizable rye character."
That last point matters if you're a longtime 1792 bourbon drinker who's been curious about rye but never pulled the trigger. Because 1792's bourbons already lean high-rye in their mash bill, this new straight rye should feel like familiar ground with a sharper edge.
What's In The Glass
- Aroma: warm baking spices, spiced fruit jelly
- Palate: rye spice, cinnamon candy, molasses
- Finish: long, with mulling spices and sweet oak
- Proof: 100
- Price: $39.99 suggested retail per 750ml
The Oldest Bourbon The Brand Has Ever Made
Image credit: Barton 1792 Distillery
While the rye is the headline for accessibility and everyday drinking, 1792 XV is the release built for the collector, the guy who wants something special for the top shelf. This is the oldest age-stated bourbon 1792 has ever put out, resting a full 15 years in virgin charred American white oak barrels before it ever saw a bottle. It's also the first time the brand has released anything at cask strength, meaning nothing was added or taken away. It comes out of the barrel at 124.2 proof, uncut and unfiltered, exactly as it aged.
Getting there wasn't a quick process. The team at 1792 went barrel by barrel, sampling and measuring each one to understand its individual proof and flavor character. From there, they ran through multiple rounds of blending, adjusting which barrels went into the mix and at what proof, until they landed on something that really showed off what 15 years of aging can do to a bourbon.
Flavor-wise, XV builds on the profile people already know from 1792 Aged Twelve Years, but adds three more years of maturation on top. Those extra years bring a deeper, more pronounced oak character and a richer, more concentrated sweetness. Because it's bottled at full cask strength, it also carries some of that same punch fans already associate with 1792 Full Proof. On the nose, expect sweet cola, leather, and vanilla extract. The palate brings dark cherries and cocoa, and the finish wraps up with rich oak and dark caramel. This is a sipping bourbon meant to be taken neat, no ice, no mixer, just time in a glass.
Cornelissen shared how this release actually came about, and it wasn't part of some grand master plan. "This release wasn't part of a planned experiment in barrel-proof whiskey," he says. "We noticed that several of our oldest barrels were developing extraordinary characteristics, with flavors and nuances that stood out on their own. That discovery inspired us to do something special, which ultimately led to the creation of XV."
Where To Find It
1792 XV isn't sitting on a regular liquor store shelf. It's being released through Global Travel Retail, meaning you'll find it at select international airports, including Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and Incheon International Airport (ICN) in South Korea. It comes packaged in an elongated one-liter glass bottle topped with the brand's signature oversized, flat-topped gold stopper, and it carries a suggested retail price of $249.99, with local taxes and fees varying by market.
Why This Matters For The 1792 Lineup
For a brand that's built its reputation almost entirely on bourbon for the better part of 150 years, adding a straight rye to the permanent lineup is a real shift. It shows the distillery is willing to expand beyond what's made it famous without walking away from the identity that got it here. And releasing something like XV, aged 15 years and left alone at cask strength, tells you the distillery has confidence in barrels that have been sitting quietly in a warehouse for a decade and a half, waiting for someone to notice they'd turned into something special.
The existing 1792 lineup already includes names bourbon drinkers know well: Small Batch, Single Barrel, Bottled in Bond, Full Proof, Aged Twelve Years, and Sweet Wheat, among others. 1792 Small Batch alone was named Best Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards, and that same year, Aged Twelve Years, Full Proof, and Small Batch all picked up Double Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Adding a first-ever rye and the oldest, boldest bourbon the brand has ever bottled onto that resume is a strong statement about where 1792 sees itself heading next.
Whether someone's after an everyday bottle that won't break the bank or a rare pour worth hunting down at the airport on the way to a connecting flight, these two releases give whiskey drinkers a reason to look at 1792 a little differently than they did last year.
