The 1792 Ridgemont Reserve Barrel Select is distilled in Bardstown and is named after the year that Kentucky became an independent state. This oldie still has the old brand name on the label: 1792 Ridgemont Reserve. What changed over time? Image the boardroom of Brown-Forman, sometime in the nineties. These owners of the Woodford Reserve brand are cross, as this pesky little brand called 1792 Ridgemont Reserve is too similar to their brand. They go to court. They win big time, forcing Barton (the former owner of 1792) to lose the ‘Ridgemont Reserve’ addition.
And now for a free (!) history lesson: in 1792, Kentucky became the 15th state admitted to the Union, splitting from Virginia in the process. It took some serious flirting with enemies like Spain and Great-Brittain. As part of Virginia, Kentucky was outlaw territory, for daring settlers only. The government and law were far away. After the Declaration of Independence – when Virginia suddenly became the largest state in the Confederation – all of this changed. The people of Kentucky began seeking separation. Both Britain and Spain were in favor. Britain wanted an ally in its war to end the rebellion and Spain wanted Kentucky to recognize its claims to the Mississippi River region. The people of Kentucky used those flirtations to give Congress and Virginia new incentive to admit Kentucky as a State. The rest is history.
Did we mention this 1792 Ridgemont Reserve Barrel Select has a fancy burlap label around the neck?