Michter’s Whiskey has mastered the art of the comeback.
The story of Michter’s Whiskey actually begins with the story of Shenk’s Whiskey. In 1753, a farmer named John Shenk began producing rye whiskey using his local Pennsylvania rye grain. Shenk’s local whiskey became so popular that George Washington (allegedly) bought it by the barrels for his soldiers in the Revolutionary War.
Whether that tale is ultimately true or false didn’t matter much to Abraham Bomberger who purchased the distillery about 100 years later. The new Bomberger’s Whiskey enjoyed a few good decades until it was forced to close during Prohibition. From 1933 until 1989, the distillery struggled to maintain consistent ownership and consistent financial health. By 1989, the current owners were forced to declare bankruptcy and close the distillery doors again.
So after multiple owners, multiple struggles, and multiple closures, Michter’s Whiskey has finally clawed its way back onto the whiskey scene. The distillery was resurrected in the late 90s, but didn’t enjoy immediate fame. In fact, when we first tried Michter’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon a few years ago, it was under some suspicion. Without a distillery of their own, it was safe to assume Michter’s was contracting out part of its production, but still little was known about who, when, and what went into Michter’s. Now with three massive buildings to call home, Michter’s seems to have full control over their products and it shows.
The Michter’s Kentucky Straight Rye is part of the US*1 collection. This single barrel offering is all about showcasing the distillery’s rye heritage with an herby, peppery, signature-rye flavor right at the top. The middle flavor rolls into a surprisingly citrus, oak, and vanilla taste before circling back to a spicy, peppery finish. At only 84.8 proof and no age statement, there is certainly room for this whiskey to grow and develop, but for now it’s really punching above its weight. This bottle is a great introduction to rye for both neat sips and classic rye cocktails.
Across 250 years, Michter’s Whiskey has dragged itself through wars, Prohibition, bankruptcy, and about a million different owners. But with their Kentucky Straight Rye, Michter’s Whiskey is living proof that you can’t have a really cool comeback without a few really big setbacks.
STATS: Michter’s US 1 Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
- Price for us: $49 for 750 mL
- Proof: 84.8
- Aged: NAS
- Distillery: Michter’s Distillery
- Recommendation: Neat
