Today I’ve got a staple whiskey that I’m surprised I haven’t gotten around to yet. I like the Michter’s bourbon, and I like the rye even better. Here we’ve got a bourbon-rye hybrid, so if all goes well, this should be solid. Nose: Heavy on the vanilla, caramel, gala apple, toffee, and brown sugar. Some maple pecan and toasted almond. Cocoa, nutmeg, sawdust, black pepper, clove, a smidge of pipe smoke, and a powerful hit of oak. Palate: Plenty of toasted almond. Gala apple. Spicy black pepper. Milk chocolate, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, and vanilla. High viscosity. A little leathery. Some cherry, Vick’s Vapor Rub. Clove, nutmeg, and oak. Finish: Gala apple and caramel. Some menthol, spearmint. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, and nutmeg. Red hot tamale. Plenty of oak. Moderate, maybe moderate-long finish. Surprisingly hot on the way out. What an amazing deal I got for this one. It’s a beautiful blend of the best attributes of both the Michter’s Bourbon and their rye. 4.5/5. VFM is certainly achieved here. $40 is no price at all to pay for a bottle of this ilk. It’s the best offering between this, their rye, and their bourbon—in that order. Very much looking forward to trying the American Oak after this excellent showing.