It was darkish and wet and the espresso store had closed hours earlier. This, although, was an important day. So on a latest Saturday evening, proprietor Kevin Bates allow us to contained in the constructing and locked us in to debate, debate, and drink whiskey.
Kevin owns a pair of espresso outlets in suburban Portland, Ore., and retains a lovingly curated wall of whiskies behind the counter alongside indicators promoting bungalow mix and scones. Earlier than I ever met Kevin, I acknowledged that somebody on the store was a whiskey aficionado. Not solely is it unusual to have a whiskey wall at a espresso store, however I recurrently found labels there that I had on my private want checklist.
On this case, I requested Kevin to affix me in opening a bottle that’s on his private want checklist: Michter’s 25-year-old bourbon.
About Michter’s 25 12 months Outdated
In reality, the Michter’s 25 might be on the want checklist of most bourbon drinkers – or needs to be. It’s been three years since Michter’s launched one, and that was the primary time since 2008. If that’s not sufficient to persuade you it is a uncommon whiskey, the value level certainly will. Michter’s says the MSRP on the brand new, restricted launch is $1,000, however you’re extra more likely to discover it on secondary markets for between $6,000 and $9,000 a bottle.
It is a unicorn bottle – the type fanatics spend years lusting after and dreaming they may discover in some magical (and reasonably priced) nook of the whiskey world. It’s as more likely to go to a collector as somebody who needs to drink it, or to finish up at a luxurious bar most of us won’t ever have the chance to expertise.
The problem as a reviewer is tasting the bourbon on its deserves alone, with out being swayed by the value tag. This brings us to late evening on the espresso store, and why I requested Kevin to affix me for the primary pour. I used to be desirous to test my response towards another person’s, to speak it over with a fellow lover of bourbon, and to verify I used to be targeted on the precise issues once I tasted it subsequently. (I pour any whiskey 3 times, on separate days, earlier than writing a overview.)
Verdict
Would possibly as effectively minimize to the chase. Kevin and I finally agreed that Michter’s 25 12 months Outdated is a very unbelievable whiskey, presumably the very best both of us had ever tasted. However it took us some time to get there, and we warmed up our palates with a few different age-statement bourbons whereas we spent two hours speaking, amongst different issues, concerning the explosion of whiskey’s reputation and what that has performed to the worldwide market.
As we talked, we poured Outdated Fitzgerald 13-year-old Bottled in Bond bourbon and Orphan Barrel Rhetoric 24-year-old bourbon, a treasure from the Stitzel-Weller warehouse. Each are good whiskies, with spectacular age statements of their very own. Right here’s the factor: Every tasted like a watery, pale imitation of bourbon subsequent to the Michter’s. That’s under no circumstances meant to demean Outdated Fitz or the Orphan Barrel launch. They’re great. However the Michter’s is one thing whiskey drinkers are lucky to ever stumble throughout – a bottle they’ll bear in mind without end. Greatness within the glass.
I’ll depart apart the query of whether or not this bourbon, or any bourbon, is definitely worth the price ticket. What I’ll say is that when you’ve got an opportunity to drink Michter’s 25, it’s best to take it.
Tasting Notes: Michter’s 25 12 months Outdated Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Very important Stats: Aged a minimum of 25 years in new American oak; mashbill not listed; 116.2 proof/58.1% alcohol by quantity; $1,000 for a 750ml bottle in line with the MSRP, though extra more likely to be discovered for $6,000 or extra on secondary markets.
Look: Deep amber. Swirling it in a Glencairn Glass leaves thick legs up the perimeters, suggesting a whiskey with substantial mouthfeel.
Nostril: Graham crackers; vanilla beans; a touch of contemporary ginger. It’s heat, however – given its alcohol content material – not notably boozy.
Palate: The legs we noticed when swirling it within the glass weren’t deceptive – it is a bourbon that’s each luxurious and silky. It’s nearly like taking a chew of one thing slightly than ingesting it. Layer by layer, totally different flavors materialize. The wooden essence comes first, which isn’t shocking for a 25-year-old bourbon: Evenly buttered toast, pecan pie bars and vanilla cake with a brown-sugar glaze. Later, almond brittle makes an look, together with an undercurrent of spiced apples and cinnamon. It’s a wealthy mixture of flavors, however it comes throughout as balanced slightly than cloying.
The end is remarkably lengthy. It begins spicy, holds on for an prolonged time frame and ends, lastly, with a dollop of honey. Every time because it light, I discovered myself tipping the Glencairn and hoping to seek out any final, further drops.
This overview was initially printed in December 2020, and up to date in December 2024.
