
Size: 750ML
Proof: 86
Availability: Limited and Allocated
Product Description:
Michter’s Limited Release Toasted Barrel Finish US1 Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey
Limited Release • Secondary Toasted Barrel Finish • 86 Proof (43 % ABV)
Michter’s US1 Toasted Barrel Finish is a masterstroke in whiskey finishing. Taking their award-winning US1 Sour Mash base, Michter’s gives it a second life in custom “toasted but not charred” barrels made from 18-month air-dried oak. This additional maturation deepens nuance rather than overpowering the spirit, offering a balanced interplay of toast, smoke, and refined sweetness.
Production & Finishing Details
- The core whiskey is Michter’s US1 Sour Mash Whiskey, itself crafted with innovation outside typical bourbon/rye bounds.
- That spirit is then transferred into a second barrel, made from 18-month air-dried oak staves, which are toasted (not charred).
- Bottled at 86 proof (43 % ABV) for this limited release, preserving elegant drinkability and expression.
Tasting Notes
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Nose
Silky toffee and creamy vanilla open the experience, followed by fragrant honey, milk chocolate, and a bright lift of orange peel. -
Mid-Palate / Palate
Toasted campfire notes emerge, layering cherry spice, cinnamon bark, and warm oak influences deepening the base whiskey’s fruit and spice character. -
Finish
A gentle fade of oak, sweet smoke, and warming spice balanced, refined, and long enough for reflection. (Inferred based on finishing style)
Serving Suggestions
- Neat Best to appreciate how the toasted barrel influences the core US1 character.
- With a Few Drops of Water Opens soft aromatics and lets the barrel nuance breathe.
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Signature Cocktail Toasted Sour Smash
- 2 oz Michter’s Toasted Barrel US1
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup (or honey syrup)
- Shake with ice, strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice, garnish with a lemon wheel and a sprig of mint.
Why It Matters:
This edition is more than a finish it’s a conversation. By choosing a toasted (not charred) barrel second finish, Michter’s respects the expression of the sour mash base while elevating it subtly with warm oak and toast influence. As a limited release, it offers whiskey lovers a rare chance to taste complexity without overwhelming proof.