Table Of Contents

The Details

Rating 93
Style
Whiskey
Produced In Kentucky
United States
ABV 45.6%
Availability Limited
Price $110.00 
Reviewed By
Reviewed 2025-08-26

Shenk's Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey (2025) Review

First introduced in 2018, Shenk's Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey is one of Michter’s more esoteric products. Like the brand’s US*1 Small Batch Sour Mash, it’s neither a bourbon nor a rye, though the exact mash bill remains undisclosed. Michter’s does refer to Shenk’s as “an expression made with a good amount of rye,” and some specific aspects of the releases can change from year to year, including cask types and grain varietals. (For example, in 2024, Michter’s highlighted the use of caramel malt in the recipe.)

Shenk’s is named for John Shenk, a Swiss Mennonite farmer who founded a Pennsylvania distillery in 1753. That would eventually become Michter’s Distillery, which ceased operations in the 1980s. The brand has since been resurrected by its current ownership, and production is now based in Shively, Ky.

As per usual, this year’s Shenk’s is a non-age-stated Kentucky sour mash whiskey, bottled at 91.2 proof. A particular and disclosed quirk of the 2025 version has to do with its maturation history. Portions of the final release were finished in French oak barrels with staves sourced from the Vosges forest, which were then toasted but not charred. Along with Bomberger’s Declaration and the new-to-2025 Bomberger’s PFG, Shenk’s is part of Michter’s Legacy Series, which honors the brand’s lengthy history.

Let’s see how this year’s Shenk’s Sour Mash tastes!

Shenk's Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey (2025) review.

Shenk’s Sour Mash 2025: Stats and Availability

The 2025 version of Shenk’s keeps the same MSRP as last year: $110. It’s a limited American whiskey release, though anecdotally, I find it more frequently (and less often with retail markups) compared to the brand’s age-stated products, like Michter’s 10 Year bourbon and rye. If you’re on the lookout for a bottle, don’t be surprised to see it listed for between $110 and $140 at retail.

Shenk’s Sour Mash 2025 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 2025 Shenk’s starts off with an intricate series of wood-influenced aromas: toasted/burnt marshmallow, dried wood staves, barrel char, and barrel-aged maple syrup. Moderately toasted sourdough bread comes next, slathered in salted butter; a light amount of buttermilk punctuates some of the sour, bready notes without dominating.

A second sniff allows those scents to build while also introducing sugar-dusted raspberries and a small (but noticeable) whiff of macerated black cherries. Those fruity, sweet, and tart notes accumulate with more time in the glass, and the overall nose of the whiskey shifts just slightly away from the hefty amount of toasted wood.

At least here, I don’t pick up on a lot of traditional rye spice, though some moderately herbal characteristics eventually move from background to foreground, with pops of sawgrass, lemongrass, and fennel. Those notes stay closer to accents than serving as the main event but still provide some additional and welcome depth to a nose that walks a nice line between composition and complexity.

Taste

Wow, that’s a creamy first sip. Sweet — but not saccharine — buttercream frosting hits the tongue and slowly rolls back over the rest of the palate; the whiskey itself boasts impressive viscosity for its 91.2 proof. Seasoned oak and Hershey's Kisses-esque milk chocolate are up next, carrying much of the wood character from the nose in addition to a dialed-up amount of cocoa.

The second taste is all about fruit, dark and sticky with dried dates, apricots, and especially figs. The dram never gets as sweet as fruitcake, but those flavors stick around from before the mid-palate all the way through to the finish. Candied cherry and coffee ice cream emerge around the mid-palate, the latter interlaced with threads of hardened chocolate.

Thick, spiced, wood-smoked caramel carries flavors through from the mid- to back-palates, and it’s here the rye becomes more pronounced in conjunction with heavily toasted wood. Combined with the aforementioned dried fruit, it’s close to spiced cinnamon raisin bread (or in this case, cinnamon fig bread).

Finish

The finish oscillates among fig, cherry, caramel, and oak, conveying each while never quite settling into one. Cinnamon and a small element of pink peppercorn lend some continued spice for a finish that, in addition to being mid-length and well-balanced, is the most rye-forward component of the sip. I found myself wishing for just a few more seconds of flavor after some sips, but that’s a borderline-unfair ask for a sub-92 proof whiskey as approachable as this.

Shenk’s Sour Mash 2025 Rating

93/100

Recap

Neither bourbon nor rye, Shenk’s may be difficult to categorize in the landscape of American whiskey. But as with most previous releases, it certainly punches above its weight on flavor and overall drinking experience. The 2025 release delivers a balanced profile that showcases the impact of toasted wood while staying grounded in flavors that have made it a fan-favorite pour. A great nose and pleasing mouthfeel work in tandem to elevate this year’s version, matching (and perhaps just slightly exceeding) a high standard from previous batches.

As of 2024, VinePair no longer participates in any affiliate programs. All links included in our content are as a convenience to our readers, not for earning commission — we receive no monetary value from them. Learn more about our tastings & review department here!

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93
POINTS
Shenk's Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey (2025)
First introduced in 2018, Shenk's Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey is one of Michter’s more esoteric products. Like the brand’s US*1 Small Batch Sour Mash, it’s neither a bourbon nor a rye, though the exact mash bill remains undisclosed. Michter’s does refer to Shenk’s as “an expression made with a good amount of rye,” and some specific aspects of the releases can change from year to year, including cask types and grain varietals. (For example, in 2024, Michter’s highlighted the use of caramel malt in the recipe.) Shenk’s is named for John Shenk, a Swiss Mennonite farmer who founded a Pennsylvania distillery in 1753. That would eventually become Michter’s Distillery, which ceased operations in the 1980s. The brand has since been resurrected by its current ownership, and production is now based in Shively, Ky. As per usual, this year’s Shenk’s is a non-age-stated Kentucky sour mash whiskey, bottled at 91.2 proof. A particular and disclosed quirk of the 2025 version has to do with its maturation history. Portions of the final release were finished in French oak barrels with staves sourced from the Vosges forest, which were then toasted but not charred. Along with Bomberger’s Declaration and the new-to-2025 Bomberger’s PFG, Shenk’s is part of Michter’s Legacy Series, which honors the brand’s lengthy history. Let’s see how this year’s Shenk’s Sour Mash tastes! Shenk's Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey (2025) review.

Shenk’s Sour Mash 2025: Stats and Availability

The 2025 version of Shenk’s keeps the same MSRP as last year: $110. It’s a limited American whiskey release, though anecdotally, I find it more frequently (and less often with retail markups) compared to the brand’s age-stated products, like Michter’s 10 Year bourbon and rye. If you’re on the lookout for a bottle, don’t be surprised to see it listed for between $110 and $140 at retail.

Shenk’s Sour Mash 2025 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 2025 Shenk’s starts off with an intricate series of wood-influenced aromas: toasted/burnt marshmallow, dried wood staves, barrel char, and barrel-aged maple syrup. Moderately toasted sourdough bread comes next, slathered in salted butter; a light amount of buttermilk punctuates some of the sour, bready notes without dominating. A second sniff allows those scents to build while also introducing sugar-dusted raspberries and a small (but noticeable) whiff of macerated black cherries. Those fruity, sweet, and tart notes accumulate with more time in the glass, and the overall nose of the whiskey shifts just slightly away from the hefty amount of toasted wood. At least here, I don’t pick up on a lot of traditional rye spice, though some moderately herbal characteristics eventually move from background to foreground, with pops of sawgrass, lemongrass, and fennel. Those notes stay closer to accents than serving as the main event but still provide some additional and welcome depth to a nose that walks a nice line between composition and complexity.

Taste

Wow, that’s a creamy first sip. Sweet — but not saccharine — buttercream frosting hits the tongue and slowly rolls back over the rest of the palate; the whiskey itself boasts impressive viscosity for its 91.2 proof. Seasoned oak and Hershey's Kisses-esque milk chocolate are up next, carrying much of the wood character from the nose in addition to a dialed-up amount of cocoa. The second taste is all about fruit, dark and sticky with dried dates, apricots, and especially figs. The dram never gets as sweet as fruitcake, but those flavors stick around from before the mid-palate all the way through to the finish. Candied cherry and coffee ice cream emerge around the mid-palate, the latter interlaced with threads of hardened chocolate. Thick, spiced, wood-smoked caramel carries flavors through from the mid- to back-palates, and it’s here the rye becomes more pronounced in conjunction with heavily toasted wood. Combined with the aforementioned dried fruit, it’s close to spiced cinnamon raisin bread (or in this case, cinnamon fig bread).

Finish

The finish oscillates among fig, cherry, caramel, and oak, conveying each while never quite settling into one. Cinnamon and a small element of pink peppercorn lend some continued spice for a finish that, in addition to being mid-length and well-balanced, is the most rye-forward component of the sip. I found myself wishing for just a few more seconds of flavor after some sips, but that’s a borderline-unfair ask for a sub-92 proof whiskey as approachable as this.

Shenk’s Sour Mash 2025 Rating

93/100

Recap

Neither bourbon nor rye, Shenk’s may be difficult to categorize in the landscape of American whiskey. But as with most previous releases, it certainly punches above its weight on flavor and overall drinking experience. The 2025 release delivers a balanced profile that showcases the impact of toasted wood while staying grounded in flavors that have made it a fan-favorite pour. A great nose and pleasing mouthfeel work in tandem to elevate this year’s version, matching (and perhaps just slightly exceeding) a high standard from previous batches.

Reviewed On: 08-26-2025
93
POINTS
Shenk's Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey (2025)
First introduced in 2018, Shenk's Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey is one of Michter’s more esoteric products. Like the brand’s US*1 Small Batch Sour Mash, it’s neither a bourbon nor a rye, though the exact mash bill remains undisclosed. Michter’s does refer to Shenk’s as “an expression made with a good amount of rye,” and some specific aspects of the releases can change from year to year, including cask types and grain varietals. (For example, in 2024, Michter’s highlighted the use of caramel malt in the recipe.) Shenk’s is named for John Shenk, a Swiss Mennonite farmer who founded a Pennsylvania distillery in 1753. That would eventually become Michter’s Distillery, which ceased operations in the 1980s. The brand has since been resurrected by its current ownership, and production is now based in Shively, Ky. As per usual, this year’s Shenk’s is a non-age-stated Kentucky sour mash whiskey, bottled at 91.2 proof. A particular and disclosed quirk of the 2025 version has to do with its maturation history. Portions of the final release were finished in French oak barrels with staves sourced from the Vosges forest, which were then toasted but not charred. Along with Bomberger’s Declaration and the new-to-2025 Bomberger’s PFG, Shenk’s is part of Michter’s Legacy Series, which honors the brand’s lengthy history. Let’s see how this year’s Shenk’s Sour Mash tastes! Shenk's Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey (2025) review.

Shenk’s Sour Mash 2025: Stats and Availability

The 2025 version of Shenk’s keeps the same MSRP as last year: $110. It’s a limited American whiskey release, though anecdotally, I find it more frequently (and less often with retail markups) compared to the brand’s age-stated products, like Michter’s 10 Year bourbon and rye. If you’re on the lookout for a bottle, don’t be surprised to see it listed for between $110 and $140 at retail.

Shenk’s Sour Mash 2025 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 2025 Shenk’s starts off with an intricate series of wood-influenced aromas: toasted/burnt marshmallow, dried wood staves, barrel char, and barrel-aged maple syrup. Moderately toasted sourdough bread comes next, slathered in salted butter; a light amount of buttermilk punctuates some of the sour, bready notes without dominating. A second sniff allows those scents to build while also introducing sugar-dusted raspberries and a small (but noticeable) whiff of macerated black cherries. Those fruity, sweet, and tart notes accumulate with more time in the glass, and the overall nose of the whiskey shifts just slightly away from the hefty amount of toasted wood. At least here, I don’t pick up on a lot of traditional rye spice, though some moderately herbal characteristics eventually move from background to foreground, with pops of sawgrass, lemongrass, and fennel. Those notes stay closer to accents than serving as the main event but still provide some additional and welcome depth to a nose that walks a nice line between composition and complexity.

Taste

Wow, that’s a creamy first sip. Sweet — but not saccharine — buttercream frosting hits the tongue and slowly rolls back over the rest of the palate; the whiskey itself boasts impressive viscosity for its 91.2 proof. Seasoned oak and Hershey's Kisses-esque milk chocolate are up next, carrying much of the wood character from the nose in addition to a dialed-up amount of cocoa. The second taste is all about fruit, dark and sticky with dried dates, apricots, and especially figs. The dram never gets as sweet as fruitcake, but those flavors stick around from before the mid-palate all the way through to the finish. Candied cherry and coffee ice cream emerge around the mid-palate, the latter interlaced with threads of hardened chocolate. Thick, spiced, wood-smoked caramel carries flavors through from the mid- to back-palates, and it’s here the rye becomes more pronounced in conjunction with heavily toasted wood. Combined with the aforementioned dried fruit, it’s close to spiced cinnamon raisin bread (or in this case, cinnamon fig bread).

Finish

The finish oscillates among fig, cherry, caramel, and oak, conveying each while never quite settling into one. Cinnamon and a small element of pink peppercorn lend some continued spice for a finish that, in addition to being mid-length and well-balanced, is the most rye-forward component of the sip. I found myself wishing for just a few more seconds of flavor after some sips, but that’s a borderline-unfair ask for a sub-92 proof whiskey as approachable as this.

Shenk’s Sour Mash 2025 Rating

93/100

Recap

Neither bourbon nor rye, Shenk’s may be difficult to categorize in the landscape of American whiskey. But as with most previous releases, it certainly punches above its weight on flavor and overall drinking experience. The 2025 release delivers a balanced profile that showcases the impact of toasted wood while staying grounded in flavors that have made it a fan-favorite pour. A great nose and pleasing mouthfeel work in tandem to elevate this year’s version, matching (and perhaps just slightly exceeding) a high standard from previous batches.

Reviewed On: 08-26-2025