By Randall H. Borkus
Common Ranking: A
Michter’s 10 Yr Previous Single Barrel Bourbon for 2023
(Credit score: Richard Thomas)
Final month noticed Michter’s Distillery launch a brand new version of its 10 Yr Single Barrel Bourbon. That could be a huge deal as a result of not like most of its peer labels, Michter’s 10 Yr Previous doesn’t essentially come out yearly, and it wasn’t shipped in 2022.
Michter’s President Joseph J. Magliocco stated, “I assumed that the ten Yr Bourbon we are actually releasing was ingesting superbly final 12 months, however our Grasp Distiller Dan McKee and our Grasp of Maturation Andrea Wilson advised me that with yet one more 12 months of maturation it could be extraordinary. … We’re grateful for all of the understanding and persistence that our loyal Michter’s followers have proven in ready an extra 12 months for the discharge of our 10-Yr Bourbon.”
Grasp Distiller Dan McKee added, “One of the crucial necessary issues I realized from our late Grasp Distiller Willie ‘Dr. No’ Pratt was persistence. He wouldn’t launch a product until he felt it was at its peak maturation … Final 12 months, Andrea and I tasted the then already effectively over 10-year-old bourbon and spoke about it. We each felt that it could be distinctive with yet one more 12 months within the barrel. I’m so enthusiastic about the way it turned out.”
Properly Michter’s didn’t disappoint me in in the least this 12 months. This can be a very spectacular whiskey that’s going to show some heads!
The Bourbon
I’ve the nice for fortune to have an open 2021 Michter’s 10 Yr Previous Bourbon, so I poured a facet by-side, as I attempt to do every year. The 2021 expression remains to be scrumptious; nonetheless, there’s much more occurring with the 2023 Michter’s 10 Yr Kentucky Straight Bourbon.
My bottle is #23A0269 at 94.4 proof.
The colour is darkish charred-honied amber which is simply stunning in my Glencairn. The nostril jogs my memory of the sweet coating on French burnt peanuts we used to purchase after I was a child on the carnival (however with out the peanuts right here), sporting a real corn sugar be aware with a contact of burnt Crème brûlée.
The entrance and mid-palette are wealthy, viscous, and barely dry with a full greedy mouthfeel in my cheeks. The mid-palate is loaded with hints of fermented cherry custard, honeyed vanilla and a dry oak essence.
The end is full bodied and warming with a contemporary oak core wrapped in Vanilla bean dusted with a nutty walnut dryness.
I added a couple of drops of water and the whiskey additional opens with hints dried raisins sprinkled with cinnamon fastidiously wrapped in a splash of vanilla-caramel. The end is ongoing as I discover hints of Grandpa’s model new leather-based chair sprinkled with a contact of cinnamon spice.
Lastly, the afterglow of my empty Glencairn is simply phenomenal with mature oak and honey notes you solely discover in older extra distinguished bourbon whiskey!
The underside line in that is an distinctive bourbon whiskey that drinks a lot older than 10 years for me.
After I examine 2023 to my 2021 expression, the 2023 Michter’s 10 Yr Previous drinks extra like a 15 12 months outdated bourbon. Please perceive that’s merely my impression as all I do know for positive is that the Michter’s 10 Yr Kentucky Straight Bourbon is older than 10 years. I’ll hunt down one other a bottle as a result of I’ll want a backup in my assortment as this bottle goes to vanish earlier than summer season will get right here as I must share it with my associates.
Addendum by Richard Thomas
I additionally bought to attempt the 2023 Michter’s 10 Yr Previous Single Barrel Bourbon, and my very own tackle the nostril was a deep, earthy present of caramel and nougat, plus some sweet corn and cherry-driven sweetness and a sliver of oak. The oaky finish grows and turns cinnamon-spicy on the palate, however in any other case it shares that stability of sweet bar caramel on the one hand, and dried cherries, raisins and sweet corn on the opposite. The end is sort of mild, however lasting, rolling off with equal measures of candy and spicy.
I nearly at all times choose the Michter’s 10 Yr Previous Rye over the bourbon, however that stated, these items at all times deserves its place as among the finest bottles out there within the $150 to $200 worth vary. This 12 months, I’d choose it over Weller 12 for positive.
The Value
The 2023 Michter’s 10 Yr Kentucky Straight Bourbon has a recommended retail worth of $185 per 750ml bottle.