Table Of Contents
The Details
| Rating | 94 |
| Style |
Rye American Whiskey Whiskey |
| Produced In |
Kentucky United States |
| ABV | Varies (55% ABV as reviewed) |
| Availability | Limited |
| Price | $110.00 |
| Reviewed By | |
| Review Updated | 2024-04-10 |
Michter's Barrel Strength Rye (2024) Review
In the whiskey world, there are single barrel releases — and then there’s Michter’s.
The Kentucky-based distillery has a knack for extraordinarily consistent quality across releases comprised of many single barrel bottlings. Perhaps it’s their in-house (and closely guarded) filtration process. It could have something to do with a low barrel entry proof. Or maybe it’s extraordinarily picky barrel selection, helmed by master of maturation Andrea Wilson and master distiller Dan McKee.
Whatever the case, Michter’s single barrel releases rightfully command attention among whiskey nerds. To be clear, they’re not always my runaway favorites. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look forward to seeing how each new iteration stacks up.
Today, we’re looking at Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye. It’s a non-age-stated Kentucky straight rye, produced at the company’s Shively facility. Basically, the whiskey is Michter’s standard US*1 Rye, only bottled at cask strength instead of the more common 84.8 proof. We don’t know the exact mash bill, as Michter’s does not disclose specific grain breakdowns for its recipes.
This 2024 bottling is the first such release since 2022; according to Michter’s, the average bottling proof across the release is 110.2 proof. (Our particular review bottle clocks in at a dead even 110.)
Even for Michter’s, it’s fair to expect some flavor variation across individual barrels. Keeping that in mind, let’s dive in and see how it tastes.
Michter's Barrel Strength Rye: Stats and Availability
The MSRP for the 2024 Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye is $110, more than double the price of the regular US*1 version. It’s a limited release we don’t always see each year. Michter’s doesn’t release bottle counts for this product, but it’s certainly less common than the standard offering. That perceived scarcity and the brand’s reputation combine to frequently push the expected retail price a bit higher. I’ve seen these barrel strength offerings for as high as $220 in more expensive metropolitan markets; however, there’s quite a bit of variation, and I’ve also purchased versions for suggested retail even in the heart of New York City. This is a fun bottle to hunt and comparison-shop, assuming you’re keen on finding one.
Michter's Barrel Strength Rye Review
As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.
Nose
The nose starts with a rapid succession of sweet, oaky, and spicy, with a complexity that makes picking out individual aromas challenging. Stick with it for more than a few seconds, and spice takes the early lead: clove, ginger, allspice, and white pepper. Cinnamon — which American whiskey drinkers are heavily familiar with — takes a backseat here, allowing those other scents to show their full strength. This particular sample is nosing every bit of its 110 proof, walking that fine line between punchy and hot on the ethanol.
Savory and herbal components are up next. Unlike many high-rye whiskeys (like MGP’s famous 95 percent rye), Michter’s Barrel Strength is lighter on mint and dill and instead leans into thyme, sage, celeriac, and shallot. (It’s worth emphasizing that the last note is balanced and doesn’t dominate in any aspect.)
Brown sugar sweetness, salted milk caramel, and oak follow. This whiskey certainly doesn’t nose as maturely as last year’s Michter’s 10 Year Rye. But it doesn’t need to. At least at this juncture, there’s no real dearth of wood influence.
As multifaceted as the above sounds, the nose isn’t quite done yet. Spice and vegetal elements eventually become intertwined via a mild — but detectable — smell of ancho chile, with smoky capsaicin lingering in the nostrils for a few seconds.
Taste
If the nose was a ride, the palate has twists and turns, albeit in a completely different order.
Sweet oak takes the lead, and even on a first sip, the palate is already drinking well below 55 percent ABV. The relatively timid ethanol heat allows sweetness to build and evolve, first as thin vanilla frosting, then honey syrup, and eventually a dark pan caramel as tannins become more pronounced on the tongue.
Spice is noticeably lighter here, more nutmeg than anything else. Transitioning from sweet into spice gives this rye a mocha flavor, like with cocoa dusk sprinkled over creamy foam. There’s still a touch of that red, peppery influence, which also evokes spiced Mexican hot chocolate at the midpalate. Compared to the nose, green, vegetal components are dialed down.
This version of Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye has an earthy quality that reminds me of the “dusty funk” present in some pre-1990s American whiskey. It’s earthy, but not overly mineral. Modern rye fans will find a lot to like on the palate. Seekers of vintage bourbon and rye may go a little more bonkers, especially transitioning from the palate to the finish.
My first two sips came through surprisingly thin, texture-wise; that may have been either a temporary fluke or quality specific to this one barrel. Either way, viscosity builds, and the whiskey ultimately proved up to the task of carrying multiple realms of flavor with gusto.
Finish
It’s tough to time the exact length of any finish, especially one that oscillates in a balance between drying and mouthwatering — which this certainly does. Safe to say, that earthy finish sticks around longer than the majority of ryes on today’s market, with just enough sugar to temper astringency.
Milk chocolate on the palate becomes dark chocolate on the finish, just sweet enough to keep from getting tart. I would have welcomed more traditional baking spice through the finish, my main criticism for an otherwise solid ending.
Michter's Barrel Strength Rye Rating
94/100
Recap
It’s pretty simple: Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye once again delivers. It’s a deep, complex rye that excels across the nose, palate, and finish. It’s not superlative in each and every aspect; the nose takes a touch too long to settle, and more spice on the finish may have elevated the whiskey even further. Those nitpicks aside, this is a delicious straight rye that will hold its own against most premium bottlings in a blind flight. I’ll certainly be pouring it a few more times in the coming weeks.
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