Michter's US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Sour Mash Whiskey (2019 Release)

Insufficient corn content for bourbon, insufficient rye content for that category. I haven't tried the standard Michter's Sour Mash, so without a basis for comparison, I'll attempt to evaluate this limited edition on its own merits. Batch No. 19H1247 Smell: Gala apple, brown sugar, chewy caramel, and a strong caramel scent. Some leather and toffee. Apple cider and baked apple. Vanilla and banana. Orange peel. Walnut and almond. The aromas are mostly sweet, though a hint of spice is present if you look for it. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, allspice. It's faint, but it's there. A nice oak hit. Surprisingly potent aroma for a 43% ABV spirit. Taste: Leather and black pepper are the first sensations. Then it's more Gala apple. Caramel, vanilla, and abundant orange/orange peel notes. Honey, toffee, apricot, and peach. A substantial oak note and a bit of baking spice. Mostly allspice, with a touch of the cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove from the aroma. Black pepper throughout. Aftertaste: Apple cider, and a bit of black pepper. Chewy caramel and orange peel. Vanilla. Plenty of baking spice. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and allspice are very prominent. Big oak. Moderately long, which is a pleasant surprise at 43% ABV. It's a good whiskey. The aroma reminded me strongly of a bourbon. Meanwhile, the taste starts like a rye and shifts into a hybrid of a standard bourbon and something I can't quite identify by mid-palate. The aftertaste is a mix of both a bourbon and a rye. I find this fascinating. Before this review, I compared it to Elmer T. Lee, another Sour Mash whiskey. I preferred ETL. But that's one of my favorites, so it's no discredit to this one. Based on its own qualities, it's a very good whiskey. Is it worth the $90 I spent? I'd say so, due to its uniqueness. Michter's disregarded traditional mash bill standards in the US and produced a quality product. I'm uncertain what the Toasted Barrel contributed to this. As I understand it, the mash bill had a greater impact on the tasting notes than whatever the toasted barrel added. Still, I am now very curious about the standard Michter's Sour Mash. I'll have to purchase it. But if you can find this for under $100, I'd suggest buying it. It's a very interesting whiskey and I'm glad I acquired it.

Taste: Straight 1.5 oz in a glen cairn glass Smell (3.25): Sweet corn and barbecue sauce are prominent. It's a pleasant aroma, but the sweet corn scent suggests it's young. This makes me suspect it might be one that was rushed to market and needs more time in the barrel. I hoped it wouldn't deteriorate further. Taste (4.25) This is where the nose felt young, but the palate was like a tale of two cities! Quite interesting. It's the best of sour mash (sweet yellow butterscotch candies from grandma's candy dish) and toasted finishing (campfire marshmallows, smoky embers). Where the smell didn't wow me, the taste made me want more. Aftertaste (3.75) I get a pleasant barbecue sauce and s'mores without the chocolate. I wish it lasted longer, but this was really good while it persisted. Overall: Showcased the best of both worlds - sweet, corny, butterscotchy sour mash and that campfire toastiness with a smoky wood flavor on the finish. This is one I would absolutely LOVE to taste at full barrel proof. It's intriguing but not perfectly balanced. I prefer it to toasted bourbon, but it's not as refined as the 2017 toasted rye.

Interesting liquid. A very heavy nutty flavor on the finish. I had the chance to try this during a very long night of whiskey tasting, but unfortunately, I couldn't take good notes. I use the rating scale below. The distiller uses a 5-point scale, and I use a 10-point scale, but I'm sure you aren't too intoxicated to figure it out! 1. Disgusting - So bad I poured it out. 2. Poor - I wouldn't choose to consume it. 3. Bad - Has multiple flaws. 4. Below average - Not bad, but there are many things I'd prefer. 5. Good - Just average. 6. Very Good - Better than average. 7. Great - Well above average. 8. Excellent - In a category of its own. 9. Incredible - An all-time favorite. 10. Perfect

The color is a deep brownish amber, and when swirled, it leaves heavy streaks on the glass. The nose is very subtle but abundant with oak, cooked caramel, vanilla, molasses, and just a trace of floral rye notes. The oak is strongly present on the palate, balanced by molasses, with cooked caramel and vanilla playing supporting roles. The finish is medium and very oaky, revealing a toasted character as the other palate notes fade, though it concludes a little too swiftly. It's straightforward but flavorful, although the finish somewhat detracts from the overall experience.

I quite like this. It possesses more spice and complexity than the 2018 Toasted Barrel Bourbon (which I enjoyed) and is comparable to the Barrel Strength Rye. Overall, a very good offering. I obtained this for $68, and it's certainly worth it at that price. I likely wouldn't purchase it at the $100+ prices many stores are asking (and the secondary market will surely be outrageous!). So, if you're a Michter's enthusiast and can find it near the suggested retail price, buy it!

The aroma reminds me of cold mornings from my youth, opening a packet of Quaker Oats Instant Oatmeal with maple and brown sugar. The mouthfeel is gentle and light, but with plenty of sweet cinnamon and raisins, quickly shifting to black pepper and anise, slowly fading to a pleasant, long, dry oak finish. A slight astringency on the finish is the only drawback. Those who prefer higher proofs won't find this appealing. Probably not worth the secondary market price, but a nice pour all the same.