Michter's Bourbon
Kentucky bourbon at 103 proof barrel entry, aged slow.
The story behind Michter's
Michter's traces to 1753, when Swiss Mennonite farmer John Shenk built a distillery in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania. It ran as Shenk's, then Bomberger's, took the Michter's name in the 1950s, and went bankrupt in 1989. Joseph J. Magliocco bought the abandoned trademark in the 1990s and rebuilt the brand in Louisville, Kentucky with Richard "Dick" Newman.
What separates Michter's is patience with wood. Distillate enters the barrel at 103 proof instead of the 125 proof industry ceiling, so more water is present to pull sugars from the oak. Staves air-dry for 18 to 60 months rather than kiln-dry, barrels are toasted before charring, and warehouses are heated through winter to push whiskey in and out of the grain. Drinks International named it the World's Most Admired Whiskey four years running, 2023 through 2026.
Explore the Michter's range
Michter's runs from the everyday US*1 line to allocated toasted finishes and age-stated releases. Here is how the expressions stack up by proof and character.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michter's US*1 Bourbon | Small batch Kentucky straight bourbon | 91.4 | Vanilla, caramel, soft oak; the flagship pour |
| Michter's US*1 American | Unblended American whiskey | 83.4 | Aged in whiskey-soaked barrels; lighter, sweeter |
| Michter's US*1 Sour Mash | Small batch sour mash whiskey | 86 | Toasty grain, dried fruit, gentle spice |
| Michter's US*1 Straight Rye | Single barrel straight rye | 84.8 | Pepper, herbal rye, clean finish |
| Michter's Toasted Barrel Rye | Toasted barrel finish rye | Varies by batch | Extra toasted oak, marshmallow, baking spice |
| Michter's 10 Yrs Bourbon | Age stated limited release bourbon | Varies by barrel | Deep caramel, leather, long oak finish |
| Michter's 20 Yrs Bourbon | Ultra premium rare release | Varies by barrel | Concentrated dark fruit, tobacco, cedar |
SpiritMichter's - Us*1 American 750mL$47.99Out of stock
SpiritMichter's - 10 Yrs Bourbon 750mL$179.99Out of stock
SpiritMichter's - Us*1 Straight Rye 750mL$47.99Out of stock
SpiritMichter's - Us*1 Bourbon 750mL$47.99Out of stock
SpiritMichter's - 10 Yrs Straight Rye 750mL$249.99
SpiritMichter's - Barrel Strength Rye 750mL$199.99Out of stock
SpiritMichter's - 20 Yrs Bourbon 750mL$1,375.99Out of stock
SpiritMichter's - Toasted Barrel Rye 750mL$149.99Out of stock
SpiritMichter's - Toasted Barrel 86' 750mL$299.99
SpiritMichter's - Us*1 Sour Mash 750mL$47.99Out of stock
SpiritMichter's - Toasted Barrel 91.4' 750mL$199.99Which Michter's is right for you?
The US*1 core is where most people start, and it sits at $47.99 a 750mL across the lineup: Bourbon, Sour Mash, American, and Straight Rye. Step up and the Toasted Barrel Rye runs $149.99, the 10 Year Bourbon $179.99, and the Barrel Strength Rye $199.99. Above that, the 10 Year Straight Rye is $249.99 and the 20 Year Bourbon is $1,375.99. Allocated bottles move fast, so call ahead at (631) 343-7200 before you drive over.
86 proof, toasty and gentle, easy neat any weeknight.
Cask strength heat with herbal rye snap; add water slowly.
Two decades in oak, a rare bottle worth the shelf space.