By Randall H. Borkus
Score: A-
The Michter’s staff has been making high quality whiskey for the reason that 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 alternative for growing older, but one which results in a richer, complicated, full-bodied whiskey with correct maturation. It’s additionally a alternative that results in the ultimate proof of the whiskey being decrease than what we’d see from different fashionable 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 fashion, which suggests the bulk grain is rye, supported by a major 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 just lately acknowledged “This Kentucky fashion rye at barrel power is one other implausible strategy to benefit from the conventional traits of a rye whiskey whereas providing a pleasant steadiness 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 chic darkish cinnamon teal exhibiting off in my Glencairn.
The nostril bursts with a steadiness of candy honey, powdered brown sugar, and refined hints of caramel, vanilla, dried fig and char. The palate is complicated 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 gradual 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 will need to have for individuals who benefit from the Kentucky fashion rye whiskeys!
The Value
The advised retail value for a 750ml bottle within the U.S. is $120.
