Bardstown, Kentucky has been making whiskey for a long time, and few places there can claim the kind of history Barton 1792 Distillery carries. On October 28, 2026, the distillery announced a new release that takes one of its best-known bottles and pushes it into stronger territory. The new whiskey is called 1792 Wheated Full Proof Bourbon, and it comes in at 125 proof.
For longtime bourbon drinkers, the announcement raises a simple question. What happens when a whiskey known for being soft and sweet is bottled at full strength? According to the distillery, the answer is a bourbon that keeps its gentle side while gaining a lot more depth.
What “Full Proof” Means Here
The phrase “full proof” can mean different things depending on who uses it. At Barton 1792, it has a specific meaning. The whiskey is bottled at the same proof it had when it first went into the barrel. That is called the entry proof. In the case of this new release, that number is 125.
Image credit: Barton 1792 Distillery
Most bourbons are cut with water before bottling to bring the proof down. Bottling at entry proof means far less is taken away from the whiskey before it reaches the glass. The distillery says this approach gives the new release its bolder flavor while still holding on to the sweet, soft qualities that wheated bourbon is known for.
A Look Back at Sweet Wheat
To understand the new bottle, it helps to know where it came from. The new whiskey is built on 1792 Sweet Wheat, which first came out in 2015. That bourbon has been around for more than a decade and has built a loyal group of fans along the way.
Wheat Instead of Rye
Most bourbon recipes use corn as the main grain, along with smaller amounts of rye and malted barley. Rye tends to add spice and a sharper edge. Sweet Wheat swaps the rye out for wheat. That change gives the whiskey a smoother, rounder feel.
The distillery describes Sweet Wheat as having layers of vanilla, caramel, fruit and oak. It is the kind of bourbon many people describe as easygoing, without the peppery bite some rye-heavy bourbons bring.
An Award-Winning Track Record
Sweet Wheat has also earned plenty of attention from competition judges. It picked up a Double Gold at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. It followed that with a Gold at the 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition, known as the IWSC. Then in 2026, it earned another Gold at the Denver International Spirits Competition.
Those results gave the distillery a strong base to work from. The new Wheated Full Proof is meant to build on that record and give fans a fresh way to experience the same wheated style.
The Master Distiller’s Thinking
Ross Cornelissen, Master Distiller at Barton 1792 Distillery, explained the reasoning behind the new release.
“Sweet Wheat has built a passionate following because of its distinctly smooth, rounded flavor profile,” said Ross Cornelissen, Master Distiller at Barton 1792 Distillery. “With Wheated Full Proof, we wanted to take what people already love and show them another side of it. The sweetness is still there, but the higher proof brings greater depth and richness. For someone who already loves high-proof bourbon, this expression offers the kind of bold character they’re looking for. For someone just beginning to explore higher proofs, Wheated Full Proof is an inviting way to discover what higher proof bourbon can offer.”
Image credit: Barton 1792 Distillery
His comments point to two different groups of bourbon fans. One group has been drinking higher-proof whiskey for years and wants big flavor. The other group may be curious about stronger bourbon but has stayed with lower-proof bottles. Cornelissen sees the new release as something that can speak to both.
How It Tastes
The distillery shared detailed tasting notes for the new bourbon, broken down into nose, palate and finish.
The Nose
The aroma starts with soft caramel and dried honey. After that, it moves into ripe apricot, vanilla and sweet oak. Those are familiar notes for anyone who knows Sweet Wheat, but the distillery says they come through with more intensity at the higher proof.
The Palate
On the tongue, the bourbon is described as silky and full-bodied. It brings layers of honeyed caramel and ripe stone fruit. There are also light tropical notes in the mix, along with oak tannins that keep things balanced rather than overly sweet.
The Finish
The finish is long and warm. The distillery says it leaves behind lingering notes of caramelized sugar, oak and sweetness. For a whiskey at 125 proof, that long, warm finish is something many experienced bourbon drinkers will expect, but the sweetness on the back end is what sets the wheated style apart.
Why the Higher Proof Matters
According to Barton 1792, raising the proof amplifies the same characteristics that made Sweet Wheat popular. The vanilla, caramel and fruit are still there. What changes is how strongly they come across. The distillery calls the result a bold evolution of a fan favorite, one that adds complexity while keeping its signature sweetness and balance.
Inside Barton 1792 Distillery
The new bourbon is distilled and aged at Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown. The distillery’s story goes back to 1879, which makes it the oldest fully operating distillery in Bardstown. The town calls itself the “Bourbon Capital of the World,” and Barton 1792 has been making whiskey there for close to 150 years.
A Big Piece of Kentucky Land
The property covers 196 acres. On those grounds sit 30 barrel-aging warehouses where whiskey spends its years maturing. There are also 22 other buildings, including a large still house. The distillery is also home to the Tom Moore Spring, a water source that has become something of a legend in its own right.
Where the Name Comes From
The number 1792 is not random. It marks the year Kentucky became a state. The name is meant to honor the Commonwealth and its long tie to American whiskey. For a distillery that has been part of Kentucky bourbon history for so long, the nod to statehood fits.
Family-Owned Roots
Barton 1792 Distillery is an American family-owned company. It is part of Barton Brands, which is owned by the Sazerac Company. Sazerac is one of the largest distilled spirits companies in the world, with a history that stretches back more than 400 years.
The Wider 1792 Lineup
Wheated Full Proof joins a family of bourbons that already covers a lot of ground. The 1792 portfolio includes Small Batch, Single Barrel, Bottled in Bond, Full Proof, Aged Twelve Years and Sweet Wheat, among others. The company says each one is built around careful distillation, distinct recipes, patient aging and precise proofing.
The distillery produces 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey along with seven limited edition expressions.
Recent Recognition Across the Range
The broader lineup has done well with judges too. In 2025, 1792 Small Batch was named Best Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon at the World Whiskies Awards. That same year, three bottles from the range, Aged 12 Years, Full Proof and Small Batch, each took home Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
That kind of track record helps explain why a new release from the distillery gets attention. Whiskey drinkers who have followed the brand have seen it collect honors from both casual fans and seasoned critics.
Release Details
According to the distillery, 1792 Wheated Full Proof Bourbon is set to arrive beginning in November 2026. The first release covers five states: California, Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois. The bourbon comes in a 375mL bottle, which is about half the size of a standard 750mL bottle.
The Bigger Picture
Higher-proof bourbon has become a major part of the American whiskey conversation over the past several years. Many distilleries have released barrel-strength or full-proof versions of their core bottles. What makes this release stand out is the pairing of high proof with a wheated recipe. Wheated bourbons are usually known for being gentle, so bottling one at 125 proof is a bit of an experiment in contrast.
Barton 1792 is betting that the sweetness of wheat and the punch of full proof can live in the same glass. Based on the distillery’s tasting notes, the goal is a bourbon that stays smooth and approachable while giving more flavor in every sip.
For people who have enjoyed Sweet Wheat over the past decade, the new release offers a chance to taste a familiar whiskey in a stronger form. For those who have been on the fence about higher-proof bourbon, the distillery hopes this one serves as a friendly first step. Either way, it adds another chapter to a Bardstown story that started back in 1879 and is still being written today.
