Michter's 20 Year Old Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Michter's 20 Year Old Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey

In the 18th century, a Swiss Mennonite farmer named John Shenk established his family near Pennsylvania's Blue Mountain Valley. Over the years, Shenk found himself with a surplus of grains and began distilling the excess into whiskey. This distillery, eventually named Michter's Distillery, went on to become the United States' inaugural distilling company. Just two decades after its inception, General George Washington turned to Michter's Distillery Whiskey to fortify his troops during a challenging winter at Valley Forge, earning the distillery the moniker of the whiskey that warmed the American Revolution.

The advent of Prohibition in 1919 led to the closure of Michter's Distillery, along with numerous others across the United States. However, in the early 1990s, Joseph J. Magliocco and Richard Newman collaborated to resurrect the brand. Magliocco shared, "When we established our whiskey program for Michter's Distillery, Dick and I aimed to return to the 'cost be damned' origins and produce the finest whiskey possible. Our objective was to demonstrate that American whiskey could rival the best from anywhere in the world."

Michter's Distillery 20 Year Old Bourbon, masterfully crafted by distiller Willie Pratt, reflects Pratt's meticulous approach to maturation developed over his forty-year distilling career, earning him the nickname "Dr. No" for his tendency to reject aging barrels that don't meet his standards. Pratt explains that whiskey aged for over a decade faces a critical juncture, where it can either become extraordinary or unsuitable. Magliocco adds, "We reject barrels that are excessively woody or lack consistency. Willie identified a barrel that tasted delightful but had the consistency of molasses, which we obviously couldn't sell."

Michter's Distillery 20 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon, sourced and curated by Pratt, displays a rich amber hue and releases a bouquet of coffee, vanilla beans, and smoked chips. The palate is dominated by spicy notes, complemented by hints of milk chocolate, citrus, molasses, and caramel. The medium-long finish features touches of chewy leather, smoked dates, and oak, culminating in a remarkable expression of aged bourbon craftsmanship.