Michter's Releases 2023 Toasted Barrel Finish Rye For A Limited Time
One of the greatest outcomes of the whiskey boom these last few years has been the effort distilleries have made to produce better and more interesting flavor profiles. The Kentucky-based whiskey distiller Michter's is back with another batch of their limited-release Toasted Barrel Finish Rye that's set to drop in September, according to a press release from the company.
Unlike many whiskey-makers, whose production and marketing are geared toward the near-unobtainability of their offerings, Michter's has done an excellent job of keeping quality and accessibility high. Whiskey aficionados love the drinks for their outstanding flavor profile, and according to a global survey done in October 2022, Michter's has earned the title of Most Admired American Whiskey. Though folks can more reliably get their hands on Michter's, that's not to say that the secondary market hasn't run away from the MSRP, especially with limited releases. This year's batch has a suggested retail price of $120, which isn't bad considering those grabbed up just a year ago are going for $400 on resale markets.
The story of Toasted Barrel Finish Rye
Michter's has been producing toasted barrel finish whiskey since 2014 (although it was initially a bourbon), and the company was the first American distillery to use this barrel style. Through years of experimentation, it discovered a unique method for drying and toasting its barrels, and the US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Rye is the result of these efforts. To make it, distillers hand-select mature barrels of their straight rye whiskey and transfer the spirit to these custom charred hogsheads for a second round of aging. What emerges is a smooth finished drink that clocks in at a respectable 108.9 proof this year.
Michter's president, Joseph J. Magliocco said in the communiqué, "We released the first toasted barrel whiskey of any American distillery in 2014 because we loved the unique taste profile. At the time, we had no idea that it would create a new whiskey category for people to enjoy."