It is time for a rye whiskey again, and this week I feature Michter’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye whiskey. The distillery was founded by John Shenk in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania, in 1753 and known as Shenk’s. In the mid-1800s, Pennsylvania Dutchman Abraham Bomberger bought the distillery, and the name changed to Bomberger’s.
After changing hands many times during the subsequent years, it landed up in the hands of Louis Forman, who co-owned the distillery with Charles Everett Beam. Louis created the Michter’s brand name by combining his sons’ names, Michael and Peter.
Sadly, the distillery closed in 1989 due to bankruptcy. After filing for the abandoned Michter’s trademark in 1997, Joseph Magliocco and Richard Newman resurrected the Michter’s brand. The brand re-launched as a Kentucky-sourced brand in the early 2000s.
Every Michter’s Rye is from a single barrel, so there might be taste differences between the different bottlings. I have a bottle from barrel 16F471.
The Michter’s Rye is made from select American rye grain that is sheared to maximize flavour extraction from the grain.
Michter’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye whiskey has a mash bill of at least 51% rye and includes some corn and malted barley. It is a NAS release. Other releases from this brand include the Michter’s Sour Mash whiskey and the Michter’s bourbon.
Also Read: Arbiki Highland Rye
Michter’s Single Barrel Rye Whiskey Review
COUNTRY: USA
ABV: 42.4%
COLOUR: Caramel honey
NOSE: Rich and enticing. Butterscotch, dry wood, spicy rye notes with bits of creamy vanilla and a hint of something fruity. Big, bold and just lovely.
PALATE: An outstanding balance of spicy and sweet. Cinnamon and pepper followed by vanilla and sweet cherries. Bits of orange with dry oak and rye spices. Adding water brings more of the cherry notes forward. Creamy and smooth, and I had to pour another glass. This bottle will probably not see the end of winter.
FINISH: Long and warming with hints of peppercorns, tobacco and cinnamon.
RATING: EXCELLENT
WOW! What a delicious, creamy rye! It is bold and easy to drink. I am not the biggest rye whiskey fan, but this will be on rotation during the winter. The balance between the spice and the sweetness just worked faultlessly.
It has enough sweetness for my sweet palate without being overly sugary. John loved it too, which means the spicy notes worked for his more spicy preference. Just lovely.
Now to get my hands on the Michter’s bourbon to also add to my collection.
Also Read: JP Sizer’s Deluxe Whisky
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