Bourbon

Bourbon Review: Michter’s 20 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon (2019)

We review the Michter’s 20 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon release for 2019, finding it to be an excellent older American whiskey that highlights what proper cask management can do for this super premium category.

OVERALL RATING

10
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Michter’s 20 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon (2019)

Tasting Notes

About:

114.2 proof, 57.1% ABV, minimum 20 years old, Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, charred American oak barrels, 440 bottles released. MSRP around $700, with market prices reaching $3000 and up.
Appearance:
The bottle has the Michter’s sophisticated vintage look and a stout silver wax dipped top. The liquid is a perfect amber, slightly lighter than you might expect an old whiskey to be, with a dandelion hue on the edges. It bounces playfully in the glass.
Nose:
From afar we find honey and oak, not charred oak but more like your smelling the outside of a full whiskey barrel. As you get closer you get pancakes, damp spring meadow, and a bit of almond. There is a light spice and not too much alcohol, a very balanced nose.
Palate:
Chalky and balanced. Like the nose, the heat is mellow for 57%. We get white grape, a touch of sassafras, fresh cherry and clay. Blackberry comes forward a bit, but leather, honey covered pecans and duck fat carry it into a lightly spiced finish of nutmeg, clove, minerality – just a hint of rose petal. It lingers for what seems like an eternity.
Finish:
Comments:
This is an absolutely fantastic bourbon from start to finish. For me, the key characteristic is a balance of honey, nut, fruit and a perfect sense of oak. There is no over-oaking here, and in fact it is an ideally balanced whiskey, especially for the age! I was expecting nothing less, but am truly impressed by what this whiskey accomplishes. After it opens a bit farther, it becomes something so special you don’t want to put it down.

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.

Cameron Holck

After graduating with an engineering degree in Colorado, Cameron Holck found his true calling in the hospitality industry. He pursued his love of the outdoors to the Pacific Northwest, where he continues his dedication to bartending and serves as a sales representative for Four Roses Bourbon. Cameron believes that a night out is defined by the quality of hospitality and strives to enhance that experience with a fantastic drink (likely whiskey) in your hand.

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