American

Whiskey Review: Michter’s 10-Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye

We review Michter’s 10-Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye. It's a limited-edition release that clocks in at 92.8 proof.

OVERALL RATING

9
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Michter's 10-Year-Old Rye (image via Debbie Nelson)

Tasting Notes

About:

Mash bill undisclosed; 92.8 proof/46.4% alcohol by volume; MSRP of $170 for a 750 ml bottle, but secondary prices are averaging about double that.
Appearance:
Dark amber, almost orange.
Nose:
Toasted marshmallow, mint, tobacco leaf and almonds. Rye spice is apparent, but it’s overwhelmed by vanilla ice cream.
Palate:
Charred toastiness is evident from the first sip, with something underneath that reminds me of a chai latte. This is a whiskey that melts in your mouth; it’s chewy, with a riotous mouthfeel that comes from the rye. I taste cinnamon and cloves, along with a dark sweetness that brings molasses to mind. It fades into a medium-long honeyed finish.
Finish:
Comments:
My concern about 92.8 proof not being intense enough turned out to be unfounded. There’s plenty going on in this whiskey, regardless of the alcohol content. The standard against which I measure most ryes is the E.H. Taylor Straight Rye, and decided I like the Michter’s 10 better in a side-by-side comparison. (That’s saying something, because I really like the E.H. Taylor.) There’s just a warmth and toasted quality here that other ryes don’t typically have.rn

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Scott Bernard Nelson

Scott Bernard Nelson is a writer, actor, and whiskey reviewer based in Portland, Oregon. While currently working in higher education, he previously dedicated 22 years to journalism, covering impactful events such as 9/11 in Manhattan, crossing into Iraq with U.S. Marines, and contributing to The Boston Globe's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of abuse in the Catholic Church, which inspired the film "Spotlight." Since 2019, Scott has shared his insights as a whiskey reviewer for The Whiskey Wash.  

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