As readers of this blog know, we here at Talking Bourbon love us some Michter’s. Whether it is their Bourbon, Rye or Toasted barrel, we love them all. Somehow though, we have never tried their American Whiskey. Both of us are familiar with it and have seen it for sale but for some reason never pulled the trigger when it came to buying a bottle. Well that has changed.
Michter’s Small Batch Unblended American Whiskey comes in the standard Michter’s corked bottle. It is bottled at 83.4 proof, sells for around $40 and while fairly available, it is not sold everywhere. Try as we might, we could not find an age statement, clarification of the mash bill or just what this stuff exactly is. Their website states that it is aged in Bourbon soaked barrels, thus the reason it can’t be called Bourbon. But is that the only dis-qualifier?
Also, we couldn’t get a clear definition of the term Unblended. Since it is not a single barrel product, one would think it is a blend of barrels. Maybe someone reading this has a little insight. Hopefully these discrepancies won’t take from our enjoyment.
NOSE
Todd: Very nice sweet aromas of caramel and a grain that reminded me of whole wheat products. Not quite as upfront are scents of dark chocolate, raspberries and toast.
Ron: Lovely aromas of cake bread, brown sugar, caramel, honey, leather and toffee. Also pick up slight scents of cinnamon and oak and some sweet scent that I can’t quite pinpoint, maybe maple.
TASTE
Todd: Very smooth neat with an oily texture on the tongue and a strong flavor of caramel upfront. Lots of lesser taste come behind, including cocoa, cedar, oak, and toffee. I taste the whole wheat that I got on the nose as well as the maple that Ron maybe got on the nose. Also pick up a slight hint of sherry. Very good!
Ron: Sweet tastes of caramel, honey and maple dominate. I also get strong flavors of toast and vanilla. Lingering slightly behind is wood and leather. Definitely enjoyed.
FINISH
Todd: Medium long with more sweetness and a slight bit of spice.
Ron: Medium long sweet finish.
OVERALL
Todd: This stuff is damn good! I don’t care what it is called or what they mean by unblended.
Ron: This is not your typical Michter’s. It goes down almost like a dessert drink or aperitif, think Angel’s Envy Rye. Very good!
Nose 4.5 out of 5
Taste 9.25 out of 10
Finish 4 out of 5
Total score 17.75 out of 20 barrels
Well it seems Michter’s has another hit, at least with Talking Bourbon. From the great nose to the sweet but yet still complex taste, this has it all. Really the only thing that held back the score a little was the finish, and that was still 4 out of 5.
At under $40, Michter’s American Whiskey should be part of your collection. It will definitely always be part of ours.