Michter’s Toasted Barrel is a unique whiskey. It starts life as the basic Michter’s US*1 Bourbon and then gets dumped into toasted barrels where it sits for another 26 days. These toasted barrels are “…assembled from 18-month air dried wood and then toasted but not charred”. This supposedly brings out more caramel and vanilla notes and more woody notes… let’s find out!
Michter’s Toasted Barrel Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Bottler: Michter’s
Mashbill: At least 51% corn
Cask: New-Charred Oak + Toasted Oak
Age: NAS
ABV: 45.7%
Price: $50
Michter’s Toasted Barrel Review
EYE
Caramel
NOSE
Wood, caramel, dark sweets, dried red fruit, vanilla, sugary sweetness, spice and something that reminds me the Tequila Rose liqueur.
PALATE
Caramel sweetness, wood, vanilla taffy, cinnamon, toasted grains, oily nuts, peanut skins (dry papery slightly nutty quality). Some citrus peel pops in and out. It’s not a bad tasting dram.
FINISH
Medium, wood, caramel, cinnamon and clove.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good balance, medium-full body and oily, almost syrupy, feel.
OVERALL
Michter’s Toasted Barrel has a dense sweet and sticky aroma which I enjoyed quite a bit. The palate is a bit odd and doesn’t sit fully squared to the aroma, but still manages a precarious balance. All-in-all it’s really quite a nice bourbon and I find it to be something I could easily enjoy on a regular basis. The kind of whiskey I could easily settle in with and enjoy after a long day.
The Michter’s Toasted Barrel is also a whiskey I’d like to experience uncut and un-filtered. I feel like there’s some hidden depth that’s getting cut out and the effect of the toasted barrel would be even more noticeable at that level. I feel like I say that about most whisk(e)y and that’s because it’s the truth. Tasting a whisk(e)y in its most natural state and slowly watering down on your own gives you the clearest picture of what that spirit is all about.
I’ve gone a bit off-topic with this one, but the facts remain the same. Michter’s Toasted Barrel is a tasty whiskey and well worth at least a glass at the bar should you get the chance.
SCORE: 87/100 (B+)
Thanks to Linda S. for the sample!
