Whereas Michter’s isn’t any stranger to restricted releases, sure bottlings maintain near-legendary standing in American whiskey. A kind of is the model’s 20 12 months previous bourbon, an expression as wanted as it’s uncommon, with every launch usually comprising below 1,000 bottles.
Including to the rarity — and maybe in flip the attraction — is the unpredictable launch cadence. In accordance with the model, Grasp Distiller Dan McKee and Grasp of Maturation Andrea Wilson solely approve Michter’s 20 and 25 12 months previous bottlings when mature shares present distinctive depth and character. McKee and Wilson appear particularly eager on figuring out barrels that make it previous 15 years with out tiptoeing into over-oaked territory.
After all, in spirits, status and actuality are greatest reconciled with a style check. Which brings us to in the present day.
In December 2024, Michter’s introduced one other extremely restricted launch of their 20 12 months previous bourbon, the primary such bottling since 2022. (At Drinkhacker, we final encountered a 20 12 months previous Michter’s launch in 2015, as a single barrel providing.) The bottle we sampled got here from Batch# 24I3208, which lists a bottle depend of 557 on the label. It’s bottled at 114.2 proof and carries a recommended retail value of $1,200. As with all Michter’s releases, this whiskey undergoes their proprietary filtration course of earlier than bottling.
Let’s see the way it tastes!
For opinions, I typically let whiskey relaxation in a tasting glass for 5 minutes earlier than nosing. And I definitely revered that right here, nevertheless it’s virtually a moot level. As quickly as you pop the cork, Michter’s 20 bursts with darkish berry compote, bananas foster, candy balsamic vinegar, evenly tanned leather-based, dusty library e-book stacks, and (remarkably) each damp and dried tobacco leaves. I’ve usually seen a “cigar field funk” on older Michter’s releases, and this newest 20 12 months bourbon definitely carries that invoice — however with sufficient fruit to maintain early scents grounded distant from tannic soup.
Persevering with on the nostril: That darkish fruit pairs with richly toasted wooden at first earlier than transitioning to extra tannic aromas one can solely get from actually mature whiskey. The nostril here’s a journey, one which begins in a brick oven bakery after which shortly strikes to the earthen ground of an previous rickhouse. On the very again of the nostril, each espresso and chocolate-forward scents fold in, touched with residual sweetness. I couldn’t assist however consider Sno-Caps sweet, together with hints of darkish mocha.
A primary sip brings intensely darkish caramel and freshly scraped vanilla bean. These first flavors are supported by some unimaginable viscosity. It’s without delay each thick and silky, the bourbon gliding evenly throughout the tongue prefer it’s not in any explicit hurry. A contact of tart blueberry cobbler comes subsequent, adopted shortly by extra of that decadent mocha. Each of these dessert flavors carry some spice as properly, particularly baked clove and nutmeg. The chocolate leans dry, bridging candy and tannic close to the midpalate; it’s like a darkish chocolate bar evenly infused with liquid oak extract. (Frankly, tasting this had me hoping for such a factor.)
In comparison with what I’ve sampled in earlier batches of Michter’s 20 and 25, the midpalate right here is probably a contact much less candy, particularly in comparison with the nostril. That leaves extra room for spice and tart fruit to build up. Towards the again finish, a small contact of citrus peel breaks freed from the chocolate, including just a bit acidity to the tip of a really wealthy dram.
The end goes on for miles right here. Slightly sassafras and spice meld with vanilla to evoke a root beer float, after which issues lean steadily extra towards barrel char. Once more, Michter’s 20 isn’t in any rush to pressure the difficulty with oak — however when this bourbon decides to indicate its age, it does so with aplomb.
Michter’s 20 is undoubtedly one of the vital wanted and celebrated bourbons in the marketplace in the present day, maybe much more coveted as a consequence of its irregular launch schedule. The 2024 launch solely bolsters that status. Led by Dan McKee and Andrea Wilson, Michter’s has as soon as once more achieved the tallest activity in ultra-premium spirits: residing as much as a status for delivering the extraordinary.
114.2 proof.
A+ / $1200 / michters.com [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Michter’s Bourbon 20 Years Previous 2024
$1200
