Michter’s Is Releasing Its Barrel Strength Rye for the First Time in Two Years
If it feels like it’s been a minute since the last Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye release, that’s because it has been. Actually, it’s been quite a bit more than that—for the first time since 2022, this Kentucky distillery is releasing its popular barrel-proof rye, news that fans of high-ABV whiskey around the country will be quite pleased to hear.
US*1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye isn’t just a cask-strength whiskey, it’s also a single barrel release which means that each bottle comes from one individual barrel. According to Michter’s, the average strength for the 2024 release is a civilized 110.2 proof, but of course that will vary depending on which bottle you find. Michter’s is known for having a much lower barrel entry proof than the legal upper limit of 125. “It’s enormously expensive for us to barrel our distillate at the lower entry proof of 103 vs the permissible 125 entry proof,” said master distiller Dan McKee in a statement. “But the result, as this product shows, is a richer and more complex whiskey.” We were not able to sample this rye yet, but according to master of maturation Andrea Wilson it’s “a smooth, beautifully balanced, and bold journey of flavor through sweet, savory, and spice characters that is a delight to the senses and a joy to drink.”
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This isn’t the only new release from Michter’s in recent months. New editions of the Legacy Series, Bomberger’s and Shenk’s, were released last fall, along with the 2023 release of its highly coveted 25-year-old bourbon and US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Rye. And all of that comes on the heels of the brand being named “The World’s Most Admired Whiskey” by U.K. publication Drinks International, and its president, Joseph J. Magliocco, getting inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame last September.
The price tag for a bottle of Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye is $110, but you’ll likely see it listed for more than that on the secondary market. The 2024 release is just rolling out now, but check websites like Drizly to see if the current edition, or past ones, is available to purchase.
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