Up to date June 23, 2025
By Randall H. Borkus
Common Score: A-
The Michter’s crew has been making high quality whiskey because the Nineteen Nineties, however the 2015 inaugural launch of Michter’s Barrel Energy Rye was the beginning of one thing particular. The rye distillate enters the barrel at 103 proof, an costly selection for ageing, but one which results in a richer, advanced, full-bodied whiskey with correct maturation. It’s additionally a selection that results in the ultimate proof of the whiskey being decrease than what we would see from different well-liked cask power manufacturers, which frequently enter the barrel at 125 proof. This level of spending on high quality and decrease proofing is underlined with the 2025 Barrel Proof Rye.
It’s well-known Michter’s ryes are within the Kentucky model, which suggests the bulk grain is rye, supported by a big corn and malted barley affect. This excessive corn method to rye makes rye whiskey very particular in my view. It by no means fails once I add a bottle of Michter’s rye to a bottle share or tasing occasion non-rye drinkers are persistently delighted with the flavour profile. Grasp Distiller Dan McKee not too long ago said “This Kentucky model rye at barrel power is one other unbelievable method to benefit from the conventional traits of a rye whiskey whereas providing a pleasant stability of sweetness and spice.”
The Whiskey
My Michter’s US*1 Barrel Energy Rye is a single barrel expression; bottle #25B0431 at 110.2 proof (55.1% ABV). The colour is a sublime darkish cinnamon teal exhibiting off in my Glencairn.
The nostril bursts with a stability of candy honey, powdered brown sugar, and refined hints of caramel, vanilla, dried fig and char. The palate is advanced and mature; this rye drinks like there may be some age right here but the expression is NAS. The entrance and mid-palate is wealthy with honeyed fig, sugared lemon peel with notes of minty cocoa and candy cinnamon spice all sluggish dancing right into a juicy caramel toffee with a spit of black pepper.
The end is full bodied, coating my mouth with a candy cinnamon sweet, morphing right into a juicy wintergreen Chi-Mocha frappe. What may be very attention-grabbing is that my mouth continues to salivate as this rye whiskey drinks prefer it has some respectable age (I solely want I knew for certain). This yr’s barrel power rye is excellent and a should have for individuals who benefit from the Kentucky model rye whiskeys!
Addendum by Richard Thomas
In my mind-set, one of many main virtues of the Michter’s Barrel Proof Rye is that their low entry proof ensures a cask power launch like this additionally comes out robust, however not too robust. The expression has by no means required added water in my expertise, and this time round (at 110.2 proof) isn’t any exception.
The nostril tells you the whiskey is sticking to the Kentucky rye model, as a result of it leads with its brown sugar and vanilla notes earlier than bringing on a clutch of spearmint and a teaspoon of earthy cocoa powder. I discovered the flavour was akin to a Woman Scout’s Skinny Mints cookie if somebody sprinkled the highest with a crushed scorching cinnamon sweet. These minty and earthy strains proceed on into the end, the place issues take a flip into tea tannins earlier than fading off into the sundown.
The Value
The urged retail worth for a 750ml bottle within the U.S. is $120.
