Updated June 23, 2025
By Randall H. Borkus
Average Rating: A-
The Michter’s team has been making quality whiskey since the 1990s, but the 2015 inaugural release of Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye was the start of something special. The rye distillate enters the barrel at 103 proof, an expensive choice for aging, yet one that leads to a richer, complex, full-bodied whiskey with proper maturation. It’s also a choice that leads to the final proof of the whiskey being lower than what we might see from other popular cask strength brands, which often enter the barrel at 125 proof. This point of spending on quality and lower proofing is underlined with the 2025 Barrel Proof Rye.
It is well known Michter’s ryes are in the Kentucky style, which means the majority grain is rye, supported by a significant corn and malted barley influence. This high corn approach to rye makes rye whiskey very special in my opinion. It never fails when I add a bottle of Michter’s rye to a bottle share or tasing event non-rye drinkers are consistently delighted with the flavor profile. Master Distiller Dan McKee recently stated “This Kentucky style rye at barrel strength is another fantastic way to enjoy the traditional characteristics of a rye whiskey while offering a nice balance of sweetness and spice.”
The Whiskey
My Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Rye is a single barrel expression; bottle #25B0431 at 110.2 proof (55.1% ABV). The color is an elegant dark cinnamon teal showing off in my Glencairn.
The nose bursts with a balance of sweet honey, powdered brown sugar, and subtle hints of caramel, vanilla, dried fig and char. The palate is complex and mature; this rye drinks like there is some age here yet the expression is NAS. The front and mid-palate is rich with honeyed fig, sugared lemon peel with notes of minty cocoa and sweet cinnamon spice all slow dancing into a juicy caramel toffee with a spit of black pepper.
The finish is full bodied, coating my mouth with a sweet cinnamon candy, morphing into a juicy wintergreen Chi-Mocha frappe. What is very interesting is that my mouth continues to salivate as this rye whiskey drinks like it has some respectable age (I only wish I knew for sure). This year’s barrel strength rye is outstanding and a must have for those who enjoy the Kentucky style rye whiskeys!
Addendum by Richard Thomas
In my way of thinking, one of the major virtues of the Michter’s Barrel Proof Rye is that their low entry proof ensures a cask strength release like this also comes out strong, but not too strong. The expression has never required added water in my experience, and this time around (at 110.2 proof) is no exception.
The nose tells you the whiskey is sticking to the Kentucky rye style, because it leads with its brown sugar and vanilla notes before bringing on a clutch of spearmint and a teaspoon of earthy cocoa powder. I found the flavor was akin to a Girl Scout’s Thin Mints cookie if someone sprinkled the top with a crushed hot cinnamon candy. Those minty and earthy strains continue on into the finish, where things take a turn into tea tannins before fading off into the sunset.
The Price
The suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle in the U.S. is $120.
