Barton 1792 Distillery: Bardstown History, Sazerac Ownership and the 2018 Rickhouse Collapse
Updated: 15 hours ago
Barton 1792 is a Bardstown, Kentucky distillery, established in 1879 and now owned by the Sazerac Company. It is the home of 1792 Bourbon and several older Barton brands.
In this guide
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Barton 1792 at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Producer / distillery | Barton 1792 |
Location | Kentucky, United States |
Ownership | Sazerac Company |
History / origin | Barton Brands was acquired in 1993 by Canandaigua Wine Company, later Constellation Brands, which sold it to Sazerac in 2009. Sazerac is headquartered in New Orleans with principal offices in… |
Whisky characteristics | Historic Bardstown distillery associated with the 1792 Bourbon range and a 2018 rickhouse collapse |
Visiting | Consult current official visitor information; not every distillery is open to tours. |
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Quick facts
Location: Bardstown, Kentucky
Established: 1879
Owner: Sazerac Company, since 2009
Site: 51 buildings, most of them rickhouses (2018)
Brands: 1792 Bourbon, Kentucky Tavern, Very Old Barton
History
Barton Brands was acquired in 1993 by Canandaigua Wine Company, later Constellation Brands, which sold it to Sazerac in 2009. Sazerac is headquartered in New Orleans with principal offices in Louisville.
2018 rickhouse collapse
In June and July 2018 one of the distillery's 29 rickhouses collapsed in two stages. It held about 18,000 barrels. On 22 June about half collapsed, dropping around 9,000 barrels, and the rest fell on 4 July. Spirits leaked into Withrow Creek and the Beech Fork River and about 800 to 1,000 fish died. Nobody was injured. Sazerac received a state notice of violation.
The distillery today
According to the 1792 brand site, Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and is the oldest fully operating distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. It sits on 196 acres and has 29 barrel aging warehouses, 22 other buildings including a still house, and the Tom Moore Spring. Sazerac has owned the distillery and the brand since 2009.
The 1792 brand story
1792 Bourbon was first sold as Ridgewood Reserve 1792, and has been produced at Barton since 2002. Brown-Forman sued over the similarity to its Woodford Reserve name and bottle, and a federal judge ruled in its favour in 2004. The product became 1792 Ridgemont Reserve and later simply 1792 Bourbon. The number marks 1792, the year Kentucky became a state, which VinePair dates to 15 June 1792.
At launch the back label carried an 8 year age statement. In December 2013 the age statement was dropped and replaced with the wording small batch bourbon whiskey.
The 1792 range
1792 Small Batch: the signature bourbon, 93.7 proof (46.85% ABV), made from a high rye recipe. The exact mash bill is not published.
1792 Bottled in Bond: bottled at exactly 100 proof, from barrels filled in a single distilling season.
1792 Full Proof: bottled at its original barrel entry proof of 125 (62.5% ABV per VinePair), without chill filtration. It carries the 2020 Jim Murray's Whisky Bible World Whisky of the Year title, according to the brand site.
Limited editions: Sweet Wheat, Aged Twelve Years, High Rye, Single Barrel, Full Proof, Bottled in Bond and Port Finish. The brand says seven limited expressions have been bottled so far.
In December 2020 the distillery also released Thomas S. Moore Kentucky Straight Bourbon, finished in port, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon casks, with a suggested price of around $70 (VinePair).
Setbacks
Besides the 2018 rickhouse collapse above, VinePair reports that in March 2019 an equipment failure at a beer well lost about 120,000 gallons of would-be bourbon.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Barton 1792?
Sazerac Company.
When was it established?
1879.
What brands come from it?
1792 Bourbon, Kentucky Tavern and Very Old Barton among others.
Sources and gaps
Gaps for Filip: visitor tour hours and prices, the master distiller, still types, capacity and mash bill were not found on the pages that loaded (the Sazerac page was nav only). The 62.5% Full Proof strength comes from VinePair, not the brand site. Set the URL slug in SEO settings.
What makes Barton 1792 distinctive?
Historic Bardstown distillery associated with the 1792 Bourbon range and a 2018 rickhouse collapse
Barton 1792 whisky bottles and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1792 Small Batch Bourbon | NAS / edition varies | Check label | Historic Bardstown distillery associated with the 1792 Bourbon range and a 2018 rickhouse collapse |
1792 Full Proof Bourbon | NAS / edition varies | Check label | Historic Bardstown distillery associated with the 1792 Bourbon range and a 2018 rickhouse collapse |
Very Old Barton Bourbon | NAS / edition varies | Check label | Historic Bardstown distillery associated with the 1792 Bourbon range and a 2018 rickhouse collapse |
Barton 1792 whisky bottle photograph
1792 Small Batch Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey bottle
Named expressions include historic or limited releases and do not guarantee current availability, strength or specifications. Check the producer's labels.
Explore related distillery guides
Frequently asked questions about Barton 1792
Where is Barton 1792 located?
Kentucky, United States.
Who owns or operates Barton 1792?
Sazerac Company.
What is distinctive about Barton 1792?
Historic Bardstown distillery associated with the 1792 Bourbon range and a 2018 rickhouse collapse
What whisky is associated with Barton 1792?
1792 Small Batch Bourbon, 1792 Full Proof Bourbon, Very Old Barton Bourbon. Current availability must be checked.
Can you tour Barton 1792?
Please check the producer's current visitor information; not all locations welcome visitors.
Sources and editorial checks
Existing history and sources are retained above. Ownership, operating status, bottlings and tours may change.
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About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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