Table Of Contents
The Details
| Rating | 92 |
| Style |
Bourbon American Whiskey Whiskey |
| Produced In |
Kentucky United States |
| ABV | 45.7% |
| Availability | Limited |
| Price | $110.00 |
| Reviewed By | |
| Reviewed | 2024-09-13 |
Michter's US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon (2024) Review
Whiskey is a slow business, but it’d be lying to say time doesn’t fly. On the 10th anniversary of the brand’s first-ever toasted barrel finish release, Michter’s has announced the latest iteration of a storied, category-defining lineup. And this time, we’re back to bourbon.
The 2024 version of Michter's US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon is the first in the lineup since 2021. In 2022, the release was a Toasted Barrel Sour Mash Whiskey, and in 2023 the expression went back to rye. Michter’s is largely credited with pioneering the toasted barrel finish category, which it first brought to market in 2014 with both bourbon and rye.
This year’s expression starts with “fully matured” barrels of Micther’s US*1 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon. The liquid is then moved to secondary, toasted barrels made from 18-month air dried wood. (The secondary aging barrels are not charred, which prioritizes contact with the toasted wood without a filtering charcoal layer.) After an unspecified additional aging period, the bourbon is bottled at 91.4 proof.
Let’s see how the latest Micther’s release stacks up!
Michter's Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon: Stats and Availability
Michter’s limited releases are usually in high demand, and I don’t anticipate this year’s toasted barrel release being any different. It carries an MSRP of $110, though expect to see somewhat higher prices on both retail and secondary listings. (Anecdotally, I usually see the toasted releases commanding less of a markup than the brand’s 10-year age-stated bourbon and rye whiskeys.)
Michter's Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon 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 is complex and rich early on, and it doesn’t take long for a wide range of aromas to emerge from the glass. It’s altogether earthy, oak and cedar-forward, with hefty doses of lemon peel, milky caramel, and cardamom cake. There’s enough going on with this bourbon that it’s a bit challenging to separate that sweet caramel and cake from the other scents, but we’ll sure try!
First up, let’s talk about wood. Classic dried and toasted oak runs deep here, woody without nosing overly tannic or (heaven forbid) burnt. There’s enough wood influence to go beyond oak, with a bit of cooling cedar oil lingering at the end of each deep sniff.
Earthy and vegetal aromas are also quite perceptible, with hints of drying hay, old sawdust, and linseed oil. It’s notably light on fruit, riding the lines between woody, sweet, and spicy without incorporating much in the way of tart beyond some early lemon zest.
That caramel sweetness becomes increasingly spiced with time in the glass, adding in layers of not only cardamom but also allspice, saffron, and bright sumac.
Overall, the nose brings some familiar Michter’s bourbon elements, with sweetness dialed up past the norm.
Taste
Light and refreshing at first sip, Michter’s latest toasted barrel bourbon drinks at or a tad below its 91.4 proof. Diluted honey syrup glides across the tongue, and that early sweetness quickly gives way to darker wood sugars and Hawaiian-style sweet rolls. Oak punctuates every part of the palate, and it feels generally positive instead of overpowering. (This balance changes a little on the finish; more on that below.)
By the midpalate, flavors take a significant floral turn. Cardamom — even more pronounced than on the nose — comes marching in, in addition to rosewater and hibiscus. Pistachio ice cream adds a little nuttiness and a semi-roasted quality toward the back and sides of the palate.
It’s a light mouthfeel, but not thin, hitting most parts of the palate rapidly but sticking around long enough to actually say something. The entire experience is reminiscent of baklava, but without the sticky, heavier elements.
Finish
Floral and sweet on the palate, Michter’s Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon is all-in on an oaky and semi-dry finish. A final pop of cardamom leads right into toasted oak that lingers for almost a minute on the tongue. It’s not overly drying, per se, but I wouldn’t have minded another flavor or two (perhaps that lemon zest?) to break things up a bit.
Michter's Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon Rating
92/100
Recap
Michter’s latest foray into toasted barrel finishing builds on the brand’s classic bourbon profile and pushes into remarkably floral territory. It’s a fascinating look into what the company can do by pulling certain levers in the aging process.
My main critiques — and take these lightly, as this is a very good whiskey! — fall into two realms. First, the balanced palate felt like it could have benefited from even a couple more proof points to help accentuate its best flavors. Second, the finish didn’t exhibit quite the same level of balance.
Those minor notes aside, a decade into its toasted barrel finish releases, I’m happy Michter’s continues exploring new territory — almost always, it seems, with quality whiskey at the core.
*Image retrieved from Mitcher's Distillery
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