Bomberger's Declaration Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon - 2021

VITALS:

- $90

- 108 Proof

- NAS

- Batch #21E1349

- Kentucky

I have always been a big fan of the two regular Michter's releases, Shenk's and Bomberger's.  These were always special releases that weren't overly difficult to find, somewhat reasonably priced, and always solid pours. In fact, this one was one that I just happened to see sitting on a shelf and I remember being initially caught off guard and then immediately taking one off the shelf.

I haven't picked any up recently though.  That's not due to availability but rather due to price. The price for both Shenk's and Bomberger's has doubled in the last four years, perhaps in an effort by Michter's to try to reach that ceiling of what the bourbon hunter is willing to pay for their limited releases. I've had them enough that I had no problem turning down a newer bottle at $150.  That said, I'm sure it's still solid bourbon, and I do wish it were more price-friendly, as I'd like to keep some on my shelf if I could.

The nose was rich and delicious.  Right away I got this great, spiced cherry note, with a bit of black pepper to accompany the sweetness of the cherry.  There was a light cinnamon note, as well as a distinct toffee and dark chocolate note, really hammering home that "rich" characteristic.

The flavor was actually a bit more interesting, and even a bit more punchy. Right away I got a sweet clove note, bringing together those notes of cinnamon, pepper and black cherry, but in a more in-your-face way. There was also a smooth caramel sweetness to it that seemed to ride along with the cherry note, which came through right after it first hit my tongue.

On the back end it came across a bit more dark fruit forward and a bit more nutty. The black cherry remained, but there was also a sort of fig or raisin note that came through. In a way it was like black currants but slightly less sweet. There was also a sort of almond extract note that I got, though not strong.

The finish was almost all cherry and almond, however. None of the spice that I got up front really lingered, and that would be the only thing I missed in this whiskey. A little bit of cinnamon and/or black pepper spice would have really knocked this one out of the park. But, that cherry and almond still had the desired effect of making me immediately want another sip. 

I really wish the price on these bottles hadn't jumped so much and so quickly. I do love these releases, and this 2021 release was no different.

Grade: A-

Michter's Limited Release Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey - Barrel No. 21B437

VITALS:

- $100

- 110.6 Proof

- NAS

- Barrel No. 21B437

- Kentucky

This is now the third time that I've had the privilege of reviewing the Michter's Barrel Strength Rye. I remember the first time that I picked up a bottle, they just sat on the shelves collecting dust. But on a recommendation I decided to go ahead and grab one, despite the steep price, and I was immediately hooked!

Fast forward just a couple years, and suddenly these Michter's Barrel Strength Rye's became scarce. My local store was kind enough to set one aside for me, and I once again had the pleasure of enjoying a bottle. And then there were none . . . at least for a couple years, when I was once again offered a bottle. This time it seemed as though they weren't simply allocated, but were gone entirely during that time period. I didn't even hear of them hitting shelves, but I was able to grab one when it did come around, and I couldn't have been happier. This has certainly found its spot as one of my favorites, and I can only yearn for the days when it was so readily available.

The nose gave off some of the more traditional rye aromas of pine and a little bit of cinnamon spice. This had more of that walk-through-a-forest quality, though, with more earthy nots of wood shavings and sweet tobacco leaf. I also got a bit of leather and even some dark chocolate. It certainly didn't come across as sweet, but the cinnamon and pine nonetheless had me salivating.

Surprisingly, the first thing I noticed when I took my first sip was the healthy amount of vanilla right up front. I didn't get any vanilla on the nose, but it made itself known on the palate. The cinnamon from the nose was prevalent as well, even more so in the flavor than on the nose.

It was also sweeter tasting than the aroma seemed to indicate. Rather than dark chocolate, I got some sweeter milk chocolate. Rather than wood shavings and leather, I got more of a hazelnut note. I even got a little bit of dark cherry that really balanced everything out. 

The finish was delicious as well. I was left with a long and lingering cinnamon chocolate flavor that I couldn't get enough of. But, keeping it from leaning sweet, I also got this sort of bitter coffee note that seemed to fit right in perfectly. That combination of chocolate, cinnamon and coffee on the finish was so good, and it had me reaching for this bottle time and again.

Even though the price has consistently gone up, along with demand, while the supply seems to have dwindled, I still hold this whiskey dear to my heart. It is not only consistent, but it's consistently great, and as with most such things, I can only wish there were more!

Grade: A

Michter's Barrel Strength Toasted Barrel Finish Kentucky Straight Rye - 2020

VITALS:
- $70
- 109.2 Proof
- NAS
- Barrel No. 20H1738
- Kentucky

Three years ago Michter's followed up their annual Toasted Barrel Bourbon with their Toasted Barrel Rye. Up to that point, I had only heard about the Toasted Barrel Bourbon, but had never gotten my hands on it. When I got my chance to grab a rye, I remember being thrilled at the chance. And once I opened it, I was even more thrilled at just how damn good it was!! Even three years later I still remember that bottle and just how much I really loved it.

Of course, from there Michter's went back to the Toasted Barrel Bourbon, and they even released a Toasted Barrel Sour Mash. But this past year, they went back to the Toasted Barrel Rye well, and I couldn't have been more thrilled. Once it was announced I put all my feelers out there to make sure that I got my hands on a bottle, and luckily for me it paid off. It's not every time that I get a new bottle that I open it right away, but that was absolutely the case here.

The nose on this one was soft and mellow. I got the traditional notes of brown sugar and vanilla. There was also the anticipated light note of pine, as well as a decent amount of cinnamon spice. I did get a sort of salted caramel note, however, that seemed to take over more and more as I made my way through the bottle, which I really enjoyed.

That caramel note really seemed to carry over to the flavor, but with a slight twist. It was almost like a spiced caramel. In addition to the rich, sugary sweetness of the caramel, it also had a nice spicy mix of black pepper and cinnamon. It was a great mix of sweet and heat, something that to me defines a good rye.

It had a light woodiness to it, that betrayed some age, though not a lot, and it certainly wasn't enough to dry it out at all. It was, without question, a sweeter rye whiskey. However, the light notes of pine and that mix of pepper and cinnamon was enough to keep it from being overly sweet.

On the final few pours I was consistently getting a flavor that was familiar to me, but I just wasn't able to place it. Eventually, though, it hit me, and I was definitely getting a prominent note of pancakes with maple syrup. It's at this point that the spice really took a back seat and that it truly became a sweet rye. It was still delicious, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't quite what I loved about the first 3/4ths of the bottle.

It's possible I built this one up to much in my mind. It's also possible that this one simply wasn't as good as the first run. That said, that first run set the bar very high, and I can't say that I was necessarily expecting it to get over that bar. That said, this was still a fantastic whiskey, one which I had a hard time saving, despite how much I may have wanted to. I hope Michter's continues to make this, as, at least in my mind, it's the best of the toasted barrel offerings.

Grade: A-

Michter's 10 Year Single Barrel Straight Rye (2020)

VITALS:

- $160

- 92 Proof

- 10 Years

- Barrel No. 20E905

- Kentucky

I remember four years ago wanting so bad to find a bottle of this. It was one that I had, at that time, resigned myself to the fact that I'd likely never get the chance to buy one at the store. As luck would have it, though, the one and only time I've ever participated in those online raffles using Powerball, my number managed to hit and this was one of the bottles that I was able to land as a result.

I also remember being somewhat underwhelmed. That was probably the first time that I ever really went after a particular bottle.  Quite frankly, it was the first hard-to-find bottle that I really wanted to get my hands on. And I distinctly remember trying it for the first time and realizing that it just didn't live up to the hype.  Like I said, that was four years ago, and since then I've had various Michter's rye products that I've loved. So, when the opportunity once again presented itself, I decided to give it another go.  And I'm so glad I did!

The nose was full of soft but sweet notes of brown sugar and salted caramel. It also had a fairly strong vanilla note as well, making it smell very dessert-like. At times I even got a maple syrup note and was reminded of pancakes. However, it also had a bit of that pine note letting me know that it was still a rye, despite the lack of spice.

Much like the nose, the flavor was all soft and sweet up front. This does rye certainly does not fall in the spicy rye category, as I was getting a lot of the same notes I got on the nose. It was a confectionary blend of caramel, brown sugar and butter, almost like homemade candies I used to get at my grandmother's house near the holidays. At times I was even getting a sweet vanilla note, like vanilla icing.

It did have a touch of wood to it as well, but it wasn't quite pine. It was more of a sawdust flavor, like the taste of the air when you use a table saw. Not really bitter and not piney, but definitely woody.

The finish was probably my favorite part. There I got more of the traditional rye notes, with cinnamon and brown sugar taking center stage. There was a slight cherry flavor as well as a maple syrup that lingered long after each pour, and in the end I found myself being reminded of spice cake. This finish was dessert-like and spicy at the same time, and I loved it!

While I was underwhelmed the last time, that was not the case this time. This was a fantastic bottle and I already miss it.

Grade: A

Shenk's Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey - 2020

VITALS:

- $90

- 91.2 Proof

- NAS

- Batch No. 20G1520

- Kentucky

It wasn't that long ago that I finished off and ultimately reviewed my 2019 bottle of Shenk's.  In fact, I had a decent amount still in my bottle when I got the opportunity to purchase this 2020 bottle of Shenk's. Of course, I couldn't pass up grabbing this year's as well, and, quite frankly, it's what gave me the motivation to finally finish off the previous year's bottle.

While I regret not doing a side-by-side when I had the chance, I do feel like I opened this one pretty much immediately after finishing the last one off. So the comparisons were at least a little fresh, even if not done side-by-side. Regardless of comparisons, though, this and the Bomberger's from Michter's have certainly become no-brainers as far as grabbing a bottle when the opportunity presents itself.  And this particular bottle only further supported that notion.

The nose was dominated by notes of brown sugar and cinnamon. It also had a bit of a buttery note, along with a cracker note, the combination of which reminded me of Ritz crackers. Interesting, and certainly not unwelcome.  There were also light wood notes that provided a bit of bitterness, and at times that note even leaned a little bit towards orange peel. 

That same cinnamon and brown sugar from the nose, not surprisingly, also seemed to dominate the palate, at least on the front end. The tip of my tongue was immediately hit with that cinnamon spice along with the sweetness that had kind of a pastry quality, but with a little more cinnamon heat. 

It certainly had a lot more going on. Early on in this bottle I was getting distinct amaretto notes that I absolutely loved, particularly with the brown sugar. As I made my way through the bottle, that amaretto turned a bit towards an anise note. Not a heavy anise note, the likes of which would turn me off, but rather a light note that also worked well with the brown sugar. 

Surprisingly, I got a bit of a white bread note, like a sweeter, not so yeasty bread note. That seemed to pair with soft caramel note to create almost like a caramel iced donut, but not so cloyingly sweet. It even had a bit of butterscotch to it.  The combination was a bit hard to put my thumb on, but whatever it was it was delicious!

While the flavors I was getting seemed to bounce around a bit as I made my way through this bottle, the one thing that remained consistent was that it was always delicious. In fact, I found this to be significantly better than the 2019 bottle, which is good considering it came with a significantly greater price tag!  Hopefully the price increases stop there, because I want to continue trying to find one of these as they are released.

Grade: A-

Shenk's Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey - 2019

VITALS:
- $60
- 91.2 Proof

- NAS

- Batch No. 19G1138

- Kentucky

I have long been a fan of Michter's, particularly their ryes. I still yearn for the days when their barrel strength rye used to collect dust on shelves. But those days are gone. Nonetheless, Michter's is releasing more products than ever these days, including all sorts of special releases from 10 year single barrel ryes and bourbons, to much older whiskeys to toasted barrel finishes. They also continue to release their Bomberger's Declaration and Shenk's Homestead whiskeys.

These are two brands that Michter's has purchased and revitalized so to speak, and what I've had of them has been delicious.  I last had the Bomberger's in 2018, and I couldn't get enough of that one. So, of course, when the Shenk's Homestead was offered to me, I jumped on it (and I've since obtained a 2020 Shenk's as well that I'm still working my way through).  I figured I had very little to lose and much to gain.

My initial impression of the nose was that it was sweet and nutty, kind of like honey roasted peanuts. However, the more I stuck my nose in my glass, the more the sweetness came forward, but it was a richer sweetness, like good, real maple syrup. It had a bit of a pancakes vibe to it which I liked, even with a touch of cinnamon sprinkled in.

The flavor wasn't exactly pancakes, though. Rather, I got a heavy dose of brown sugar and cinnamon, and it was very traditional in flavor in this respect. It certainly came in on the sweeter side, with the spiciness taking a bit of a back seat.

However, the nuttiness from the nose as well as the sweet maple syrup note did come through. Rather than giving a "pancakes vibe," though, it had more of a pecan pie feel to it. It even had a bit of a graham cracker crust note to round it all out. 

The dessert motif didn't stop there, however.  There was also a lighter sweetness mixed in as well, like a honey and wheat note. There was also a buttery note as well, and on later pours from the bottle I was getting a sort of brown sugar crumble flavor, the kind that would go on top of coffee cake or an apple crisp. It even had a slight doughy pastry note.

On the finish I got all brown sugar and vanilla, and again very minimal cinnamon spice. However, the finish was long and those dessert-like flavors seemed to coat my mouth after every sip. 

Overall, this was a great whiskey (I've been careful not to call it a bourbon), particularly if you're one who like your bourbons on the sweeter side (as so many bourbon drinkers do).  I tend to lean more towards spice, so this wasn't necessarily up my alley. That being said, again, this was a great whiskey with lots of richness and depth of flavor, and I had a hard time putting down my glass.

Grade: B+

Michter's Limited Release Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey - Barrel No. 19C394

VITALS:
- $80
- 112 Proof
- NAS
- Barrel No. 19C394
- Kentucky

There once was a time, not that long ago, that this stuff just sat on shelves gathering dust. In fact, the last time that I reviewed this release, back in 2015, that was exactly the case. That was a bottle that I had been eyeing for a while, and eventually pulled the trigger.

This bottle, however, was one that never made it to the shelf. Because it's gotten so scarce (perhaps a combination of lack of supply and increase in demand), it was treated as allocated and held in back. I only got the chance to buy the bottle due to my local store's manager knowing my love of rye and letting me know it came in.  I didn't even know to ask for it, it had gotten so far off my radar.  I only hoped it'd be as good as I remembered.

Pine and caramel dominate the nose, along with a touch of oaky bitterness. It smelled like a sweet Pacific Northwest forest. It also had some sweet cinnamon notes, and at times it smelled to me like fresh baked oatmeal cookies with just a touch of molasses. All in all, it smelled like a bold but sweet rye whiskey.

The first thing I noticed when I took my first sip was the very oily texture of this rye. It had a great viscosity that coated the glass and my mouth.  This viscosity seemed to take the flavor from the whiskey and just hit me from all angles. Luckily, that flavor was great, and I still couldn't get enough of it.

It had more of a vanilla undertone than I'd expect from a rye, and certainly than I would have expected given the nose. On top of that, however, was all brown sugar and cinnamon, giving a great baked goods type of sweet and spicy.

It had a light woody note to it, but not as strong as was on the nose. It was more of a nutty type of wood note, like walnut. It also had something bright to it to balance that out, kind of a mix of sweet apple and plum that I really enjoyed. At times I got hints of a spearmint-vanilla flavor as well that added a bit of brightness.

In the end, though, this is a bold, spicy rye, and the sweet cinnamon note was front and center, and that's the flavor that seemed to linger long on the finish. After I first opened this, I then set it to the side for a while, knowing that it likely wouldn't last. When I went back to this bottle, that was exactly the case, and I found myself plowing through the rest in a couple days. I absolutely love this rye and only wish it were more available, but such is the industry these days.

Grade: A

Michter's Toasted Barrel Finish Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey

VITALS:
- $60
- 86 Proof
- NAS
- Batch NO. 19G1243
- Kentucky

I have really enjoyed the toasted barrel releases from Michter's.  I absolutely loved the toasted barrel rye, and the few times I've dried the toasted barrel finished bourbon, I've thoroughly enjoyed it.  So, when the opportunity came along to grab one of these, the toasted barrel sour mash whiskey, I didn't hesitate.

This is essentially a double barreled whiskey, much like many other brands are doing. With the rye, I felt it created another layer of flavor that softened the rye spice and added some earthy flavors that were really enjoyable. I assume by calling it "toasted," that that is in contrast to being charred. Perhaps that is intended to bring more woody notes and less sugars and vanillans into the whiskey. But really I have no idea what I'm talking about.

The nose on this one was a bit distinctive. I got a sharp, bitter but fresh note of orange peel. That bitterness was also accompanied by a sort of tannic note, kind of a woody bitterness. It also had a healthy amount of caramel, and overall it reminded me of an oaked old fashioned.

The flavor was much more fruity than the nose. This bourbon had a slight syrupy quality, which really carried the flavors from front to back and allowed them to linger for quite a while.  That texture, mixed with the fruity notes, reminded me a lot of maraschino cherries, again bringing me back to that old fashioned.

It really had that nice mixture of sweet, bitter and even a touch of savory. It had a constant undercurrent of brown sugar and a bit of yeast or bready flavor to it. It was a sort of cinnamon bread, but only lightly sweetened.

At times, though, sweeter notes would poke their head in, just long enough to say hello, and then they were gone. At times I got maple syrup, and at other times it was more of a burnt sugar note. It seemed to be changing from one pour to the next, but I think that is what I liked most about it.

Although it wasn't a vanilla or cinnamon "bomb," and while it wasn't my most favorite flavor profile, what I did love and appreciate about this whiskey was its complexity and the fact that with each sip I seemed to notice something different or seemed to get a different combination of flavors. Though it wasn't my favorite whiskey from a flavor standpoint, it certainly was one of the most interesting and one of the most fun whiskeys I've had in a while.

Grade: B

Bomberger's Declaration Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon (2018)

VITALS:
- $45
- 108 Proof
- Batch No. 18C316
- NAS
- Kentucky

I have never been lucky enough to come across a Bomberger's Declaration or a Shenk's Homestead in the wild, to just be able to grab them off the shelf. A few weeks ago, however, that luck changed, and just in passing while buying wine for my wife I came across this bottle sitting on the shelf. Without hesitation I grabbed it and headed to the register. And then I forgot about it for a few weeks. I guess I just had other good stuff to get through first.

Eventually, though, I got around to opening this, and I really wish I had done so sooner! The nose was sweet and almost savory all at once. I was immediately hit with anise and clove, the kind of spices that are somewhat sweet, but that sweetness is constantly buried by the cinnamon spice and wood tones. It also smelled rich, if that makes sense. My mouth immediately started watering at the idea of tasting these complex and deep notes I got off the nose.

When I took the first sip, I knew immediately that I had something really good in my hands! I haven't had that experience in quite some time where I knew it was great from the second it touched the tip of my tongue. Up front it was initially sticky sweet maple and brown sugar, which oddly didn't really match the nose, but was nonetheless absolutely delicious.

Other flavors seemed to slowly make their way to the stage, including a nice, smooth vanilla note throughout, and that wonderful spicy cinnamon on the back end that I love the most. The juxtaposition of the sticky sweet front end and the spicy back end was absolutely spectacular.

It has a nice, oily quality to it, too, that makes that finish last forever. As it stuck around, that spicy note seemed to fade, only leaving the lingering sweet vanilla flavor. It reminded me kind of the way Fireball jawbreakers dissolved from spicy cinnamon to whatever that sweet center of the candy is.  It was like that, only a thousand times better tasting.

Throughout it maintained a slight, earthy and woody tone, which really helped keep it from being too sweet. Other than the very front end, it had an excellent balance of sweet, spicy and woody.  It all worked together to make a sort of cinnamon and dark chocolate treat.

I'm a fan of Michter's products, though I wouldn't say I'm a BIG fan. I just think they make quality products and would never turn one away. This, however, tells me that they can really make an outstanding bourbon. I loved everything about this from beginning to end. This was one of the best surprises I've had in a while. Grab it if you can!!

Grade: A

Michter's Barrel Strength Toasted Barrel Finish Kentucky Straight Rye

VITALS:
- $80
- 109.4 Proof
- NAS
- Barrel No. 17C535
- Kentucky

It's been a while since I actively sought out a particular bottle. Most of my purchasing decisions are made on the spot while browsing the shelves of my local liquor store. I had heard great things about the Michter's Toasted Barrel Finish bourbons (though I never got to try one), and when I heard they were releasing a Toasted Barrel Finish Rye, I knew I had to get my hands on a bottle.

But, I had very little luck in securing a bottle. It seemed every time I asked a store they only got one or two bottles and each time they had just sold out. I had given up, and went back to my old ways of browsing the shelves and seeing what catches my eye, when I wandered into my local Binny's and found one sitting in their locked cabinet. Without hesitation I summoned the nearest employee and snatched it up (their last one, they told me).

So, I completely hyped this product in my mind, and I was going to be really disappointed if it didn't live up to expectations. I had really set myself up for disappointment here, but fortunately this did not disappoint! I've referenced in past posts what I like in a rye, and I've referred it as traditional rye flavors. I think what I've come to define as traditional is a more rye heavy mashbill (75%-95% rye), and with minimal barley influence, something I've started noticing in some ryes. I've found the barley mutes the spiciness, and that spicy kick is what I love in a rye.

Admittedly, I don't know what the mashbill is on the Michter's rye. I do know, however, that it fits my framework of "traditional" rye, and I really like it. And I love this barrel strength toasted barrel finish! Apparently maturing the rye and then finishing it in toasted barrels (as opposed to heavily charred barrels) has a very positive and delicious effect on the whiskey.

The nose gives of a sweet cereal smell, reminding me of Frosted Mini-Wheats cereal, but without the milk. On top of that, though, it has an intriguing molasses note, and even hints of anise. The nose itself was more complex then most other whiskeys I've been drinking lately.

As noted above, the flavor is right in line with what I enjoy in a rye. It has a sweet vanilla flavor up front, followed by a long, cinnamon-spiced finish that just never went away. It has a very silky texture (comparatively speaking) that made it very easy to sip and enjoy and minimized any alcohol burn. It had a nice, viscous texture as well that coated the mouth with each sip, nice and thick and sticky.

Interestingly, along with that pronounced vanilla flavor up front was something that reminded me of wine, but not the grape or fruit notes of wine. I think it reminded me more of the tannins that you get in wines, perhaps a result of extra maturation in the toasted barrel. It was subtle, but certainly there. In later pours, I also got those molasses notes that I initially got on the nose, as well as a certain nutty flavor, kind of like pecan. When all combined, this was like drinking a pecan pie with ice cream that, for some reason, had a nice cinnamon kick at the end.

I couldn't get enough of this whiskey, and as I sit here typing this post out I'm wishing I had more. I'll move on to other whiskeys and I'm sure there will be plenty of other ryes that I enjoy, but this one certainly set the bar for me. This is absolutely delicious, goes great with Girl Scout cookies, and if you find it, buy it!

Grade: A+

Michter's 10 Year Single Barrel Straight Rye (2016)

VITALS:
- $110
- 10 Yrs.
- Barrel No. 16A131

The Michter's 10 Year Rye is one of those highly sought after "chase" whiskeys. I've long since resigned myself to being nothing more than an opportunistic bourbon hunter, grabbing those rarities when the chance presents itself, but not going out of my way to track them down. This was one, however, that I would have been happy to chase. I love Michter's in general, I love their ryes, and I'm a big fan of aged ryes. This one seemed to me like it'd be right up my alley, and I wanted one!

I did not pay secondary for mine, nor did I even pay the retail price of $110 or so. I actually won this on a whim, having entered into a raffle believing going in that I wasn't going to win it. But, for $11/spot, I figured the $22 I spent for the chance would suffice as my "chase." So when my number came up the winner, I couldn't have been more stoked, nabbing this bottle for a fraction of the retail cost, let alone the secondary which is close to double that amount!

Upon arrival, I popped it open and was hit with a caramel heavy nose, sweet but with a light amount of that rye spice on top. I also got come scent of cloves coming off it as well. It smelled very good, but along the sweeter, fruitier lines, kind of like Baby Saz.

On my first sip I couldn't help but notice how light in texture this rye is. It's soft, even a bit watery. Yet it still had plenty of flavor and a decently long finish. While it has the traditional vanilla flavor with the cinnamon spice finish that you usually get in a rye, it also had a nice orange peel tang to it.

It also had a light peppery and brown sugar finish that seemed to stick around for quite some time despite the watery texture. That orange peel, brown sugar and cinnamon spice really made me feel like I was drinking an Old Fashioned poured right out of a bottle. It was very enjoyable in that sense, as I'm a big fan of Old Fashioned's.

All that being said, the price on this bottle, bot retail and secondary, isn't really justified. There are better, more complex and more interesting ryes on the market for half the cost or less (see Baby Saz, Pikesville and Willett to name a few). While I can't be disappointed considering what I paid, if I'm reviewing this from the perspective of one who paid full price, this rye is a bit of a let down considering the price and the high demand for this product. The watery texture and lack of complexity left me feeling that while this was very good, it just wasn't . . . special.

Grade: B/B+

Michter's Small Batch US*1 Bourbon

VITALS:
- $45
- 91.4 Proof
- NAS

How I've gone this long without trying Michter's Small Batch US*1 Bourbon is beyond me. I certainly have never purchased a bottle, and I can't remember ever having it at a bar (though that is certainly not conclusive of anything). I love their barrel strength rye, and I've never heard anything bad about their bourbon, so it was high time I tried it out for myself.

The nose comes across as very traditional. It's nothing complex but provides that vanilla and toffee one would expect from a typical, good-quality bourbon.

The palate is a little bit different from the traditional Kentucky Straight bourbons, however. The most prominent flavor I noticed was a distinct almond flavor, which was backed up by some brown sugar sweetness, almost like candied almonds. It was very enjoyable, and that nutty sweetness was followed up with a light spice on the back end that seemed to hit at just the right time.

As I enjoyed subsequent pours, I noticed hints of other flavors--a light woodiness, mild vanilla tones. However, this bourbon didn't really develop or transform much after being open for a couple weeks. It stayed true to its character, but that's alright considering I enjoyed it from the start.

This is an easy drinker, certainly one that will satisfy the bourbon drinker in your life. It is not very complex, but it is clear that it was made with the purpose of creating a solid, good bourbon, one that can certainly be enjoyed neat.

I would probably give this bourbon a higher grade if the price was a bit lower. There are more robust and complex bourbons available in the same price range, ones which certainly stand out much more in their boldness. That being said, though it may not be complex and rich, it bears all the characteristics of a quality bourbon, certainly making me want to try the rest of their line of products out.

Grade: B

Michter's Limited Release Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

VITALS:
- $70
- 109.2 proof
- Barrel No. 15C285

I'll forever remember this bottle, as it was the purchase of this bottle that ignited my relationship with my local liquor store manager. This purchase is what prompted him to ask me about my whiskey preferences, and prompted me to tell him about this blog. Since that conversation, I've become a regular in his store, and the beneficiary of advance notice of rarer bottles he's getting in and even having some held back for me before hitting the shelves.

Sentimental value aside, I'll also remember this bottle for how good it is. Despite its high proof, it had a relatively soft nose, betraying no alcohol burn whatsoever, but rather offering a pleasant blend of vanilla with hints of cinnamon and coffee.

On first sip there was no getting past the burn, however, no denying it's a heater. It also had a ton of flavor to it, more than enough to work through that burn. In that first sip I was hit hard by a sweet almond and butterscotch. I was surprised because the taste did not really match the nose. I was also a bit taken aback because the flavor was simply different from other ryes I've had. Though it was unquestionably a rye, it had some familiar flavors of a single malt mixed in.

Shortly into the bottle the burn mellowed out significantly, and a different, but still tasty mix of orange and cinnamon came through, pushing the almond flavor to the back. It still maintained the somewhat buttery flavor to it, though.

This bottle was excellent, and though I waited a while to open it, once I did I worked my way to the bottom relatively quickly. The unique mix of flavors for a rye intrigued me, and the fact that they all went so well with the traditional brown sugar and cinnamon notes beckoned me. Even with the somewhat hefty price tag, I felt this was worth the money.

Grade: A-