Review: Michter’s US-1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon 2024
While they occasionally tweak the release calendar for some specialty, age-stated expressions, Michter’s limited release Toasted Barrel Finish line hasn’t skipped a beat in recent years, delivering a toasted edition of either rye, bourbon, or sour mash whiskey at a steady three-year interval. For 2024, we’re getting another US-1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon. It’s something of a milestone since the first toasted expression Michter’s ever released was a US-1 Bourbon a full decade ago, in 2014, defining the category and inspiring numerous imitators across the bourbon world.
As always, this is classic, non-age-stated Michter’s bourbon that has been finished for an undisclosed amount of time in a barrel made from 18-month air-dried staves and then toasted instead of charred. The last release from 2021 was a standout among all the toasted barrel bourbon releases. How does the latest stack up?
The nose delivers a burly bouquet that’s even a bit bolder than the 2021 release with a rush of aromatic spice and fresh, exotic wood notes, cigar box and sandalwood foremost among them. Crispy chocolate chip cookies and grilled peaches follow suit, and with time to open, a big molasses note arrives, offering a dark, smoky sweetness. On the palate, that molasses note carries over, sticky and rich, before giving way to more char-kissed wood sugars. Chai spice and coffee grounds arrive midpalate, along with a flourish of cinnamon sugar and cooked orchard fruit. The finish is warm and gently spiced with lingering notes of overcooked apple pie, complete with dark brown crust and bits of well-caramelized filling. It’s a bit lighter bodied than the 2021 release with a slightly drier profile but still every bit the toasted bourbon standard bearer.
91.4 proof.
A- / $110
Michter's US-1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon 2024
$110
