ON THE SUPERIOR SHELF
On the Superior Shelf: Tradewater Small Batch Bourbon
A Tradewater bottle, a Barton 1792 name on the label and a Mariano’s with-card shelf offer: a closer look at this Kentucky straight bourbon.
A name worth turning the bottle for
Tradewater’s cream-and-green label has plenty to catch the eye: a river-era illustration, bold bourbon lettering and a wooden closure. The detail that invites a closer look sits at the bottom: the front credits Barton 1792 Master Distillers.
That makes this a useful addition to On the Superior Shelf. With a less familiar bottle, reading both sides can be more revealing than guessing from the brand name.
What the labels tell us
The supplied front identifies Kentucky straight sour mash bourbon whiskey, marked Small Batch, with 45% ABV, 90 proof and 750 ml. The back names The Clear Spring Distilling Co., Louisville, Kentucky as the bottler.
These are distinct pieces of label information. A bottling credit does not, by itself, identify where the whiskey was distilled. Nor does the Barton name establish that Tradewater is the same whiskey as another bottle carrying the 1792 brand.
For background on that name, the official Barton 1792 distillery page places the distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. We do not yet have a dedicated Barton or Tradewater guide in our directory.
Spotted at Mariano’s: $24.99 with card
Our contributor confirmed Mariano’s as the retailer. The supplied tag lists Tradewater Small Batch Bourbon, 750 ml. It displays $27.88 above a sale price of $24.99 with card. Keep that card condition attached to the price when comparing it with another bottle.
The tag’s “Store Pick” and “Favorite Find” wording is shelf merchandising. It is not enough to call this a single-barrel store selection. The pictured bottle is labelled Small Batch.
Confirm your store’s current price, eligibility and stock before making a trip. The date printed on the tag is not evidence of when the photograph was taken or when this offer ends.
Keep the comparison useful
Our recent Four Roses Bourbon shelf entry and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked feature offer other label-and-price observations. They are snapshots, not a live price comparison.
For more bottles, browse our bourbon guide and reviews. Our bourbon buying guide can help you weigh style, strength and budget. Tradewater remains unscored here until there is a tasting to report.
Sources checked on 14 October 2026. Images supplied anonymously; contributor confirmed Mariano’s as the retailer. Label details and prices transcribed from the supplied images; store location and promotion dates are unconfirmed. No new tasting, score, age or mashbill is claimed.