What Is the Best Michter’s Bourbon? Ranking Top 10 Whiskeys From the Esteemed Brand

(Photo: AP Photo/Bruce Schreiner)

Michter’s is having a moment. This whiskey brand with roots dating back to 1753 has experienced its share of ups and downs that range from Prohibition to declaring bankruptcy in 1989.

Yet, the present and future are incredibly bright for the Louisville distillery. In 2023, Michter’s was crowned the world’s most admired whiskey by Drinks International.

Not only did Michter’s beat out the legendary Japanese whisky icon, Yamazaki, but it became the first American whiskey to achieve that title — cementing its reputation as one of the very best producers in the world.

A History of Michter’s — ‘The Whiskey That Warmed The American Revolution’

Michter’s has reinvented itself multiple times. The cult whiskey brand was originally named Shenk’s. The brand’s origin story begins with a man named John Shenk, a Swiss Mennonite farmer who began to make whiskey from rye grain in Pennsylvania in 1753. The rye whiskey was so delicious that General George Washington — as in the first president of the United States — was a fan. He bought the whiskey to help give the troops a little liquid courage during the notoriously difficult winter at Valley Forge.

One hundred years later, Pennsylvania Dutchman Abraham Bomberger bought Shenk’s distillery and renamed it Bomberger’s. Bomberger’s would go on to make whiskey until 1919, when the “Noble Experiment,” or Prohibition, forced Bomberger’s to shutter its doors. Though Bomberger’s did re-open, it changed hands many times until it was purchased in the 1950s by Lou Forman.  Forman took portions of his two son’s names — Michael and Peter — and smashed them together, giving Michter’s its name. The brand would continue for around 30 more years until it closed for bankruptcy in 1989 due to financial woes.

In 1990, Joseph J. Magliocco and his mentor Richard “Dick” Newman brought the brand back to life with the simple goal of making the best whiskey — regardless of cost. Fast forward to today, Michter’s has easily achieved cult status, with many expressions receiving heavy acclaim. With whiskeys that fetch prices as high as $70,000 — yes, those prices rival some expressions of Pappy Van Winkle — Michter’s might just have made the canon.

We’ve gone ahead and ranked the 10 best whiskeys from Michter’s using Bottle Raided’s Raided Score®, which combines our house reviews with reviews from whiskey critics far and wide to produce one average, aggregated number. You may encounter some of these bottles out in the wild and want to see how they stack up in comparison to other whiskeys. If that’s the case, be sure to download the Bottle Raiders App, where you can scan these bottles, see their reviews in real-time and even rate them yourself when you taste them!

The 10 Best Michter’s Whiskeys, Ranked

10. Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Bourbon

Raided Score®: 87

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Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Bourbon was first released in the summer of 2017 in extremely limited quantities, released only in Kentucky.

This bourbon typically retails for over $200, but given its scarcity, you’ll be lucky to find it for under $500 on the secondary market. Each barrel of Michter’s Barrel Strength Bourbon hosts a slightly different proof, but usually you’ll find them around 55% ABV.

Though this bourbon is chewably thick, it’s incredibly balanced. On the palate, picture freshly-baked pound cake with citrus oil and ginger spice. There’s a lovely bit of blackberry that carries through to the lengthy finish.

9. Michter’s Limited Release Barrel Strength Rye

Raided Score®: 89

(Photo: Michter’s)

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Bottled at 58.5% ABV, Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye has a suggested retail price of $110, but its average price in the wild hovers closer to $225. For this expression, Michter’s decides to age its rye in barrels at a lower proof. Though this costs the distillery more money, Michter’s makes this choice because it believes the resulting rye is richer and hosts a more opulent texture. Typically, releases of this expression are within the range of 107 to 112 proof each year.

With aromas of brown sugar, toffee and cocoa you can tell from the nose this rye whiskey has a lot going on. The palate is a layered composition of burnt brown sugar, crémè brûlée and black pepper for a little kick. The rye finishes with root beer candy, toffee, and oak adding plenty of structure.

This spice and tobacco-driven rye is incredibly distinctive and sure to leave an impression.

8. Michter’s US1 Barrel Strength Toasted Barrel Finish Rye

Raided Score®: 91

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You could say Michter’s was responsible for starting the toasted barrel finishing craze, and after taking one sip of this whiskey you’ll get why other distilleries wanted to hop on the bandwagon. This whiskey hosts an ABV of 54.45% and a suggested retail price of $120 (realistically, you’ll probably find this bottle for between $200 and $300 on the secondary market). To make this whiskey, Michter’s uses a custom-made barrel of 24-month air-dried wooden staves that are toasted exactly to Michter’s specs.

Michter’s Toasted Barrel Rye Whiskey is gentle as far as ryes go, and you’ll experience plenty of coffee, cream and sugar sweetness on the nose. The palate is like liquid dessert, with marshmallow, honey, rock candy and pepper for some kick. Michter’s Toasted Barrel Rye Whiskey finishes with more of that toasted marshmallow vibe and maple syrup.

Michter’s Toasted Barrel Rye knocks it out of the park as far as toasted barrel-finished expressions go, and this gentle sweet rye is a great after-dinner drink.

7. Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Rye

Raided Score®: 92

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Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Rye is released annually and is a celebration of America’s oldest whiskey variety — rye. The rye-naissance is upon us, and Michter’s has tirelessly championed the “other whiskey” before rye whiskey was cool. 2024’s release of this limited-release rye clocks in at 92.8 proof and is aged in fire-charred new American white oak. It hosts a suggested retail price of $200, but due to its limited availability, its average price is more like $300-plus.

At first whiff, you can tell this is going to be one powerfully potent rye, with loads of baking spices like cinnamon and cloves. There’s a brown butter sweetness, and an herbaceous oaky rye this is not. The pour hosts plenty of stone fruit aromas, interlaced with honey and baking spice. Despite its lower proof, this rye whiskey is rich and viscous. Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Rye finishes with dessert and baking spice, coupled with a subtle sweetness.

This big, rich and sweet rye is a knockout.

T-4. Michter’s 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon

Raided Score®: 93

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With a suggested retail price of $185 an ABV of 47.2%, Michter’s 10 Year Kentucky Bourbon really does show the difference a decade makes. Released each year, Michter’s 10 Year Kentucky Bourbon spends a decade aging in charred new American white oak barrels.

Despite the fact this bourbon’s MSRP being below $200, chances are you’ll find it retailing for closer to $500 on the secondary market.

The richly cherried nose on this bourbon possesses plenty of dark spices and a bit of char. The palate is full of red fruit flavors that segue into spices, root beer, and nutty toasty goodness. Michter’s 10 Year Kentucky Bourbon concludes with that red fruit theme, leaving a lasting impression.

T-4. Bomberger’s Declaration Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Raided Score®: 93

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Bomberger’s Declaration is one of the best-kept “secrets” about the Michter’s brand. This culty, almost indie B-side bourbon pays homage to the distillery’s history before it shuttered its doors in 1989. This bourbon is bottled at a modest proof of 108 and hosts a suggested retail price of $120. Michter’s used Chinquapin wood — a species of North American white oak that typically grows in the Midwest — to finish this whiskey.

The Kentucky bourbon brand says it chose to work with Chinquapin oak because it enhanced the cooked fruit qualities within the pour and added a chocolatey flavor. With a powerful nose of tobacco, espresso and cocoa for days, this is one brooding bourbon. The palate is full of cocoa, butterscotch and brown sugar. Just a touch of brioche lifts it a bit, and lingers until the finish. The pour concludes with waffle cone, tobacco and black pepper, making this a powerful and rich bourbon with an incredible amount of character.

Bomberger’s Declaration features a suggested retail price of $120 and clocks in at 108 proof. Though it’s harder to find, we recommend seeking it out. According to Wine-Searcher, the average price you’ll find Bomberger’s for is $226.

T-4. Shenk’s Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey 2024

Raided Score®: 93

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Another whiskey from Michter’s Legacy Series, Shenk’s Homestead pays homage to John Shenk, the Mennonite Founder who founded what would later be Michter’s. For the first time, the 2024 release incorporated caramel malt. In addition to caramel malt, rye and malted rye are used in the mashbill.

Shenk’s Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash is citrus-driven throughout, from that lovely sour mashing process. On the nose, lemon and lime are beautifully integrated with honey, tobacco, and tropical fruit. The pour is lifted and bright, with caramelized orange peel, lemon and a snap of cracked pepper. This whiskey finishes long, with orange peel and vanilla bean, coupled with honey and lemon.

If you’re looking to pick up a bottle of this 91.2-proof whiskey, it hosts a suggested retail price of $110, and unlike most expressions on this list, if you’re fortunate enough to find a bottle, it might actually be at around that price (or at least not $200-plus).

3. Michter’s 20 Year Kentucky Bourbon

Raided Score®: 96

(Photo: Michter’s)

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For Michter’s 20 Year Kentucky Bourbon, Master Distiller Dan McKee chooses some of Michter’s most prized barrels between 17 to 20 years of age.

This bourbon hosts a suggested retail price of $800, and you’ll typically find it on the secondary market for between $3,000 and $7,000. Despite its hefty age, this whiskey is incredibly light on its feet.

With an ethereal nose of buttercream, white florals and citrus, there’s a lot of vibrancy in this beautifully-aged bourbon. The pour is full of lemon cake, almond liqueur, and bright red fruits. Michter’s 20 Year Kentucky Bourbon finishes long, with aromas of black tea. Beautifully complicated, and a joy to sip.

2. Michter’s 25 Year Kentucky Bourbon

Raided Score®: 97

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You could refer to Michter’s 25 Year as a modern unicorn. This bourbon was distilled from an undisclosed recipe that Michter’s simply refers to as “a select mashbill” and then spent over 25 years coming of age in charred new oak casks.

With a proof of 116.2 and a suggested retail price of $1,500, you’ll probably find this whiskey on the secondary market for quite a bit more. Typically, bottles of Michter’s 25 Year go for between $6,000 and $10,000, with some retailers selling it for as much as $20,000.

With cigar smoke and black figs on the nose, coupled with gingersnaps, these aromas foreshadow a potent and powerful pour. On the palate, expect praline candies, black licorice and star anise. The finish lingers with a well-defined sweetness: picture caramel and maple candies. A monumental bottle if you can get your hands on one or snag a taste!

1. Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash 2022, Raided Score: 99

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The pinnacle of all Michter’s whiskeys is none other than the brand’s Celebration Sour Mash.

The whiskey was first released in 2013, and it really put Michter’s in the premium whiskey stratosphere. For this release, Michter’s Master Distiller Dan McKee and Michter’s Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson joined forces to choose whiskey from the best barrels the whiskey brand has to offer. In the blend, the brand shares that the youngest is just over 12 years of age, and the oldest is over 30 years old. The brand has released Celebration Sour Mash four times within the course of its history.

For the 2022 release, just 328 bottles were released into the wild with a suggested retail price of $6,000. Yet, in reality, you could see a bottle of Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash 2022 selling on the secondary market for north of $40,000. Its average price, according to Wine-Searcher, is over $22,000

Although most of us will never get to taste a whiskey this extravagant in our lifetime, we can paint a picture for you: Uproxx cites aromas of dark chocolate, brown butter, cinnamon bark and crème brûlée; vanilla, spices, stewed peaches, burnt orange and singed marshmallows on the palate; and a finish with pecans, maple syrup, orange-studded-cloves and orchard fruits.

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