Michter’s announced on Thursday that the critically-lauded brand is releasing its exceedingly rare 20 Year Bourbon, and the whiskey comes with a hefty price tag of $1,200 for a 750ml bottle. Yet with all that in mind, the three-time “World’s Most Admired Whiskey Brand’s” extended-age release might be worth its high price, according to Michter’s President, Joseph J. Magliocco.
“By law, bourbon must be aged in a brand new barrel, which imparts flavor, color and oak character more quickly than a used barrel,” said Magliocco in a statement. “To age a whiskey that will taste wonderful after two decades in a first-use barrel is an extremely difficult endeavor that requires a skillful balance of art and science. I believe that people will appreciate the thoughtful and conscientious work of our production team when they taste this exceptional whiskey.”
Michter’s 20 Year Bourbon clocks in at 114.2 proof, and Michter’s shares that the team heavily supervised the aging process for this release. Michter’s Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson oversaw the barrels, and she shared her thoughts on the release in a statement:
“Details matter when it comes to aging bourbon gracefully,” said Wilson. “Michter’s 20 Year Bourbon is an exemplary representation of how oak can be used to deepen vanilla, toffee, chocolate, spice, fruit, and confectionery notes that enhance complexity in bourbon. We hope that everyone who gets the opportunity to taste this product is able to experience the beloved attributes of a beautiful, timeless bourbon crafted through intentional aging.”
Michter’s Limited Releases In Depth
Though Michter’s 20 Year Bourbon is arguably one of the more coveted expressions within the brand’s portfolio, there are other incredible releases from the whiskey brand that fans look forward to each year.
In August, Michter’s unveiled its Toasted Barrel Finish Sour Mash. The whiskey gets its character from the distinctive mashing and finishing processes. Like its counterparts within the toasted barrel series, Toasted Barrel Finish Sour Mash spends time aging in a gently toasted barrel, that adds a distinctive quality to it.
Michter’s Master Distiller Dan McKee claimed that it was a “terrific candidate” for the finishing process because it had “attributes of a really good bourbon” yet finished “a bit like a rye.”
As far as other extended-age expressions go, Michter’s dropped its 10 Year Bourbon in March. The whiskey clocked in at a more modest 94.4 proof, and hosted a suggested price of $195.
No responses yet