Editor’s Observe: This whiskey was offered to us as a evaluation pattern by Michter’s. This on no account, per our editorial insurance policies, influenced the ultimate end result of this evaluation. It must also be famous that by clicking the purchase hyperlink in the direction of the underside of this evaluation our website receives a small referral cost which helps to help, however not affect, our editorial and different prices.
From the usual choices to the just about cryptid-level rarity of their 20-year-old bourbon, Michter’s Distillery out of Louisville, Kentucky, has developed an imposing crag within the whiskey panorama. Yearly they provide a restricted launch as a part of their US*1 lineage. This yr, as with final yr, they’re bringing a restricted Barrel Power Kentucky Straight Rye to market.
Grasp Distiller, Dan McKee, stated in a ready assertion, “we’ve put out some terrific Barrel Power Rye through the years. Personally, I really like this 2022 launch for its richness, complexity and depth. It’s an ideal illustration of our Michter’s home model.”
Michter’s is one among my favourite manufacturers, and in reality was named the “#1 Prime Trending American Whiskey model” by Drinks Worldwide. Which makes this subsequent part all of the extra fascinating. There exists some thriller round who, precisely, distills Michter’s present whiskey releases. Lately Micther’s has taken residence of their Fort Nelson Distillery, and Shively Distillery, in Louisville, Kentucky, the place even essentially the most un-astute observer will see mash tuns, and stills. The rub is as a model they’ve solely occupied these areas for a number of years, and plenty of bourbon hardliners are fast to level out the older whiskey is sourced from an unspecified Kentucky distillery.
For some, this thriller distillate is sufficient to delegitimize a whiskey. Trying to Michter’s web site, we receive no readability, “Distilled to Grasp Distiller Dan McKee’s exacting specs.” Seemingly implying he distilled the whiskey, nevertheless it doesn’t say distilled by Dan McKee. The again of the bottle does present readability, “bottled by Michter’s Distillery” (emphasis added) which I consider solutions the query; Michter’s is just not the model who distilled this whiskey. For reference, I checked a bottle of Maker’s Mark, and positive sufficient the again label proudly declares, “distilled, aged, and bottled by Maker’s Mark Distilling.” It stands to purpose Michter’s is distilling whiskey and shall be bringing that distillate to market within the close to time period, nevertheless, for now this bottle of Michter’s is just not fully its personal distillate. Which makes studying about it troublesome.
What will we find out about this whiskey? Truthfully, we do know a number of particulars. We all know it’s a part of the US*1 sequence, which has a storied legacy of making many effectively balanced and attractive whiskies. We all know it’s a rye whiskey, which suggests the mash invoice is no less than 51% rye, and sure incorporates corn, and malted barley. The whiskey is barrel power, or put it one other approach, the whiskey is just not reduce or diluted from barrel to bottle. The barrels are new oak and hearth charred. The whiskey on this launch ranges from 107 to 112 proof however varies by barrel. Final, the one impression to the whiskey that doesn’t happen within the barrel is from Michter’s “signature chilly filtration,” in any other case what you style within the glass is the way it tasted within the barrel.
Right here’s what we don’t know. The share of rye relative to different grains or the yeast pressure. We don’t understand how previous this whiskey is, though final yr’s was round 10 years previous and I might speculate that is in that ballpark. We don’t know the extent of char, though a degree three is commonest within the trade, and we will’t be constructive about who the distiller and distillery have been.
Due to this fact, we flip to the glass.
Michter’s Restricted Launch Barrel Power Rye Whiskey 2022 (picture by way of Charles Steele/The Whiskey Wash)
Tasting Notes: Michter’s Restricted Launch Barrel Power Rye Whiskey
Important Stats: No age assertion. No less than 51% rye with a possible mixture of corn and malted barley. Barrel quantity 22B319, bottled at 111.6 proof or 55.8 alcohol by quantity. MSRP is $100 for a 750 ML. Michter’s Distillery Louisville, Kentucky.
Look: Deep copper coloration, with tears that grip the glass and fall slowly.
Nostril: Beginning off with banana and vanilla bean, maturing into oak, leather-based, orange peel and darkish cherries, with mushy hints of rye. Notes are troublesome to parse out over the alcohol, as to be anticipated.
Palate: We begin off with a dry, oily, and unavoidable presence of alcohol. Nonetheless, it doesn’t overwhelm–it merely takes a second on your mouth to regulate. Regardless of the excessive ABV, this can be very easy over the tongue. Flavors of rye spice develop slowly all through, awash in notes of apricot cherry, demerara sugar, orange, and caramel toffee to spherical out the profile. The end is clear and crisp, accentuated by a ‘pop’ of baking spice, with lingering candy bread and recent leather-based.
