Michter’s Sour Mash
I visited Michter’s Fort Nelson in 2019 and mispronounced the name until I got there, so here is how the Straight Rye holds up at around €75.
Key Details
- Whiskey Name: Michter’s Straight Rye
- Distillery: Sourced Whiskey, but Distillery now operational
- ABV: 42.4% / 84.8 Proof
- Age: NAS, but minimum of 4
- Type: Kentucky Straight Rye
- Website: https://michters.com/
- Price: $40 Total Wine / 78€ in Celtic Whiskey / £69 on Amazon
I was lucky enough to attend the Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery in early July, 2019. I actually hadn’t heard of Michter’s before maybe March 2019 when I stumbled onto the brand. I had always thought it was pronounced ‘Mitch-ter’s’ but alas I was wrong with the pronunciation being ‘Mick-ters’. If you’re ever in Louisville, KY I would highly recommend visiting Fort Nelson, even just for the bar upstairs. They have delicious flights such as this one pictured which give you a great introduction to the brand and the history.
What I found most interesting about their process, other than the fact their stills are actually made by a family producer, who happened to be the same producer of stills for the original Michter’s production in Pennsylvania back in the 1970s (the distillery’s roots go back to 1753, when it was Shenk’s, later Bomberger’s), was that they ‘proof down’ their alcohol BEFORE aging it in a cask. They put it into the barrel at 51.5% / 103 Proof whereas most bourbon producers will enter the barrel at 125. I haven’t heard of any other distillery doing this, so if you have please let me know I’d love to try them to gain more knowledge about what the lower entry alcohol does to whiskey.
This particular bottle is their Michter’s Straight Rye. There’s no age statement on the bottle so it’s a minimum of 4yrs then according to label requirements. Each of the rye releases are a single barrel release so you may have slightly different tastes than me but if you happen to have Bottle No: 29C557 then you’re in luck!
Nose (28/33)
In the glass I get a strong rich caramel flavour, like those caramel cubes you can buy in the sweet tubs. There’s a good bit of rye spiciness coming to the front, with a little bit of charred oak hiding in the background. I put a drop on my hands and rubbed them together, dry, and got this amazing cocoa butter note on it and it’s there when you go back to the glass, but a little subdued.
Taste (25/34)
Very easy, mellow taste on this, not at all what one would expect on a rye. Feels light with some vanilla and butterscotch lingering there complimenting the nose. The longer you hold this in your mouth a little bit of the spicy rye creeps up but it’s not overpowering.
Finish (25/33)
The finish is of medium length, no alcohol burn from the 42.4% but a sharp spiciness note at the end to remind you its a rye, which lingers in your mouth.
Score
78/100
Honestly, I was never a rye drinker until I went to the distillery in July and they had their rye expression and barrel strength rye as tasters. If you think you don’t like rye, please get your hands on this and try it! The price point in the US is better, but for €75~, maybe a little cheaper if there’s some sites doing sales, it holds its own in that range.
Please let me know on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter if you’ve tried it and agree or disagree and share your notes.
