BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Bottled by Michter's Distillery. Whiskey is contract distilled per Michter's mash bill and instructions, while Michter's continues to age its own whiskey.
• MASH BILL: Not disclosed.
• AGE: 10 years
• YEAR: 2025, Barrel 25B0726
• PROOF: 94.4 (47.2% ABV)
• MSRP: $195

DREW'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Your favorite whiskey people. Those who haven't yet experienced the Michter's hype firsthand. Fans of well-aged bourbon (this drinks like something well over a decade old).

WORTH THE PRICE: The age-old question for fans of Michter's limited releases. At MSRP, it shouldn't take much convincing, even with the modest age statement. At typical markups (two or even four times the suggested retail price), the decision becomes more complex. A whiskey like this is why you join bottle shares and make friends with liquor store owners.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle whenever possible, especially at MSRP. Worth a special bar pour if you can't find one.

OVERALL: Michter's famously skipped the 2022 release of the 10-year-old single barrel to the dismay of bourbon fans all across the land. Since then, however, this bottle has been a consistent spring release, albeit a hard one to track down. And getting harder. There's a good reason for that: it's a consistently delicious bourbon that retains good value for collectors.

Oak integration is what really sets Michter's apart from other American whiskeys, and that typically translates to pronounced wood spice and darker, bolder notes, even in the older releases like this one. However, with this latest 10-year release, Michter's has flipped the script a bit, offering something uncharacteristically delicate.

The aroma is soft and fruity, reminiscent of Tootsie Roll, black cherry, and chocolate-covered strawberry. A hint of hot chocolate builds as it opens, becoming richer and complementing the silky texture of the aroma, while never straying into overly spicy or woody territory. The palate is equally gentle and sweet, with notes of butterscotch pudding, Demerara syrup, and subtle hints of cinnamon sugar. Orange peel and cocktail cherry on the midpalate add a bright lift before a warm, easy finish of chocolate sponge cake, mint, and dark berry trifle.

I've had the good fortune to sample several years of Michter's 10-year bourbon releases, and this is one of the best I've tasted yet. There probably aren't many of these left on the shelves (or behind the register), but if you find one for the right price, pick it up. You won't regret it.

BRAND NOTES

"Rather than on a strict age schedule, at Michter's we bottle whiskey when our production team deems it fully matured. This continues the standards set by Michter's first Kentucky Master Distiller Willie Pratt," said Michter's President Joseph J. Magliocco.

Wilson and McKee regularly taste older barrels as they assess the maturation of their stocks. Wilson commented, "It is such an exciting time when we are reviewing barrels for consideration for this release. This year's 10 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon is again overaged beyond 10 years. It opens with a very inviting nose and draws you in like a good movie with its character development and complexity with the joy of a great story it has to share and leaving you satisfied through to the finish."

"It has remarkable body and character," observed McKee. "The richness and complexity of this whiskey continues to provide such a robust experience that is amazingly flavorful for a bourbon that isn't north of 100 proof."

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.