Michter's US*1 Small Batch
$40
Michter’s US*1 Small Batch
Batch: 22G1939
Proof: 91.4
Age: NAS
Distillery: Michter’s Distillery LLC
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash: Unknown
Website: Michter’s Distilling
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: Light and Soft Caramel with Dark Fruits – Plum and Raisin. Later in the nose the ethanol hits.
Taste/Palate: Vanilla Cream and Light Caramel lead the parade. There’s fruit that follows with Apple, Pear, and Plum. There’s very little to no spice on the palate.
Finish: The previous flavors wind down and after a brief intermission there s decent amount of Baking Spices and Pepper that appears in the finish and sticks around for a while. After a few minutes I can pick up a slightly harsh Char and slight tartness. The tail end of the finish is mildly off-putting.
Verdict: It’s safe and approachable. There isn’t anything that makes this stand out in a crowd. It’s a standard bourbon that doesn’t show much age. When putting this up against other “standard” distillery offerings like Buffalo Trace (aged 8 years) and Knob Creek 9 which show much more age (not just on the label) for a considerably lower price I would pass on this bottle and get something better for less money.
The Story: Michter’s has a couple unicorns out there (Michter’s 10 Year and Michter’s 20 Year). There are others that are highly sought after, but these are the 2 most common with standard yearly offerings. I haven’t had the pleasure of trying the 10 or 20 year, but I pick up Michter’s when I can do try a wide range of their products. The US*1 Small Batch is the least favorite I’ve tried from their product line to date. Like stated above, it’s not bad, it’s just not worth the money versus other widely available bourbons at the same price range or even less. One of these days I hope to stumble upon the 10 year or 20 year even if it’s on a shelf in a bar with a inflated price. I haven’t even seen it in the wild, even for a price I would laugh at.
The Distillery’s Story: Their site lays out what makes them special and it’s their pride in their process. If there’s a bare minimum, and average, and then a deliberate attempt to take as long as needed to get it right. Michter’s would be in the latter category. Hailing out of Louisville, KY. Michter’s spends extra time drying their wood 12-48 months (industry average would be closer to 3-6 months). They toast their barrels prior to charring (Most just char and move on). They barrel at 103 proof (most barrel at 125 proof). They heat cycle during aging (the more fluctuation in temperature during aging the more the liquid expands and contracts out of the barrel. This will speed up the aging process. To finish the process they complete the process with chill filtering.
All of what’s stated above doesn’t necessarily mean that Michter’s is better than any other distillery. What it does say is that they take great care in their process and they are willing to sacrifice efficacy, time, and money to produce their end product. They do have a great whiskey line and should be very proud of the end result. Don’t let this one review persuade you from trying this bottle, but especially from trying anything else from Michter’s. Spoiler alert: I have a couple other Michter’s reviews coming in the very near future that rank much higher. Cheers my friends.
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Solid. It hit all of what’s expected.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Reviewer: David S
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