Michter's 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon (2020 Release)

Nose: ethanol, sweet, vanilla Taste: intense alcohol, heat, caramel

Always keep this in mind when evaluating “expert” distiller scores: Universally, the staff hates Old Forester & Michters. Add back 6-7 points to any score they post for these distilleries. For wine lovers this is the Inverse of James Suckling wine scores — too which you automatically subtract 7-10 points. It’s a balancing mechanism to overcome bias or economic conflict of interests.

Michter’s 10 2020 Release Neck pour Appearance: Light amber. Pale bronze. Wavy legs form and fall in synchronization. Nose: A dusty barrel full of salted peanuts, dried peaches, trail mix, cherry blossoms, and chewy caramel candies. This really has one of the most intricate noses I have ever experienced. Taste: Immediate honeyed oak, cherries, and musty funk. There are other orchard fruits mixed in as well. The musty nuttiness in this makes me want to believe the rumors that this is sourced from Heaven Hill. Maybe Beam? Finish: By no means dry or drying. Juicy sips across the lips from start to finish. Complexity abounds. Dried stone fruit pops (maybe even some banana??) out on the exhale, and I keep rubbing my tongue across the roof of my mouth trying to catch the last few traces of that dusty nutty barrel. *Almost* all of the integrity of flavor you get in a barrel proof, but without the intensity of the ABV or Kentucky hug. Delicious stuff. Can’t wait to see how it changes with oxygen. Docked in rating for price and availability. While this is still fantastic, I wouldnt pay retail for it if I saw it again. A friend of mine was incredibly generous to me so I did not have to pay as much. Very grateful! 3/20/22 UPDATE: I really do not find myself seeking this bottle out over time and have considered giving it away or trading it somehow. Dropping to 3.75.

This bourbon has a fantastic nose to it and color. The flavors of toffee, cinnamon, honey, and fruit subdue the oak. This bourbon is very smooth with a subtle burn which will keep me coming back.