Mark Adams A bourbon distilled in Bardstown and named for the year that Kentucky became a state – 1792. Ridgemont Reserve is a bit of a hidden gem, with a very low profile despite a huge 94.5 points in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2013.
Ladle of Contents
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Review:
Nose:
Lots of fresh blackberries, some alcohol, and of course some vanilla. A very complex smell, with a lot going on – looking forward to getting down to the bottle.
Taste:
The sweetness of the nose is there, but thankfully it’s balanced out. It’s light, with that classic bourbon finish, and just a slight hint of mint. It’s so pleasant – as refreshing in the mouth as the nose is – and a compelling reason to buy.
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Review:
Light feel, balanced, complex, good for beginners – as well as old pros.This is an immensely interesting bourbon, and a pleasure to sip.
Light and smooth. Slightly metallic but quite interesting – layered, tantalisingly. Very attractive.
Taste: Some pepper, some alcohol, slight sweetness, and something fruity. What flavour you’re tasting is nearly unidentifiable, but it’s a very attractive, satisfying, complex taste. In the mouth it’s like drinking your favourite type of gin.
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Review:
It’s like in the old movies when a character would reach for a glass of fine wine. I’m approaching that feeling with each sip of Hudson Baby Bourbon, and I’m enjoying it a great deal. This was a very solid bourbon. A sipping bourbon which I gave 80 points for, and would enjoy a second glass.
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Review:
Nose: Very pleasant, fresh, with just a touch of oak. I’m reminded of sherry vinegar, with a slight bitterness and smokiness to it.
Taste: A solid bourbon, with a fruity, slightly peppery spice, and a nice finish. Not as sweet as a lot of bourbons.
It’s got quite a lot going on, but it’s well balanced, sweet, and well rounded. I was surprised at how good this was, and why it wasn’t better known – a particularly pleasant and charming bourbon.
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Review:
Nose: Very fresh, with that hints of green apple which I love. Further, subtle charred notes, and some fresh tasted fruits, including pear. A very easy-going bourbon, which makes it easy to drink and enjoy.
Taste: Very sweet, with a buttery and oily texture. It’s a little too much for me, so I’ll go for a second glass, I think.
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Review:
This is a very rich tasting bourbon, with overtones of cooking. It’s very easy to drink, and fun as well. (Ambien)
A bourbon which reminds me of Special Reserve, but without the heavily peppered taste. The nose is light and easy to get into, with some musk, cream, and honey. The taste is fresh and straightforward, with not a lot going on, but a distinct, good taste.
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Review:
Nose: Clean, clear, a good bourbon nose.
Taste: Sweet, smooth, a little nutty, and not a lot else going on. It’s a moderately complex bourbon, but nothing particularly distinct.
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Review:
A very nicely balanced bourbon, a good bourbon to drink over time.
Drink Review: Bernheim Original Straight Bourbon
This is one of those bourbons I had to try. I was already a Flaviar fan and had even bought Bernheim Original before, for less than half of what it is now, so I was curious what it was like.
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Review:
Nose: Clear, with a touch of brown sugar, nice vanilla, and some coffee – possibly with a pinch of hazelnut. The nose is nice and clean, and amazingly drinkable for a “21 year old”.
Taste: It’s a light tasting bourbon, and only very slightly spicy.
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Review:
Nose: Woody and slightly smoky, but not unpleasant, like a quality red wine. Berries to the fore, and a good, rich, warming vanilla.
Taste: Very rich and smooth. Much more complex than the nose, rich and buttery, with a distinctive oakiness.
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Review:
Nose: Sweet – warm, sweet, and slightly smoky. Fresh flowers, vanilla, and some nuts, with some alcohol.
Taste: Very sweet, a little nutty, and with a buttery, rich, creamy texture.
Nose: Fruity, with some oak – I believe nutmeg. Somewhat earthy and rich, and some spice.
Taste: Rich, oily, buttery, and with some toffee, cinnamon, and vanilla. Very nice and fruity as well, very enjoyable.
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Review:
Nose: Some spice from the rye – I think this is a perfectly good nose. Some fruit hints, but the wood still stands out.
Taste: Rich, creamy, sweet, and quite warming. It has a buttery, nutty, slightly fruity quality which is very nice.
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Review:
Nose: More sweet than sour, with some fruit and oak. Vanilla and some caramel.
Taste: A sweet, smooth taste. Some spice after the sweetness, and a great finish with a little bitterness.
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Review:
Nose: Light, some vanilla, some oak, a touch of honey, and some alcohol. Seems a little better than the Vintage in the glass.
Taste: Sweet and smooth, with some bright sweetness and a faint hint of pepper.
I gave the remaining bourbons a few more chances, and they improved dramatically. However, it was Ridgemont Reserve 1792 which impressed me the most.
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Review:
Nose: Blatantly youthful and floral, with scents of apple and orange.
Taste: light, sweet, and very pleasant.
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Review:
Nose: Sweet, with some hints of wood. Some savoury notes, and a touch of alcohol.
Taste: Light and fruity.
I had a perfect bottle of Widow Jane, from South Carolina which I picked up at a recent tasting. It was probably 6 years old and tasted great. It used to be a 30-year-old rye, and I had the pleasure of tasting it for the first time at an event in Charleston, South Carolina.
Nose: fresh and clean, with a touch of flour, vanilla, with some dark fruit – plums, raspberries, and blackberries.
Taste: Woody, with a note of pepper. A medium-bodied bourbon, with a definite rye taste, with a caramel sweetness.
I had two bottles left to try.
Drink Review: Myers’s Darkest
I just wanted to try a great bourbon, and found one that was near perfect. It’s my favourite whiskey bar none, although I suspect that Bourbon BBS-12 might take a couple of points if I’m forced to make a choice.
Hudson Baby Bourbon Review:
A slightly sweet, smooth nose, with a little hickory, with a touch of iodine.
Taste: A bit too much spicy for my taste, but the neat version is still good. A nice, rich, warm taste, with a decent amount of Irish whiskey back, with some light peatiness.
