Michter’s Unblended American Whiskey Review

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B+

Michter's Unblended American Whiskey

Michter’s Unblended American Whiskey
(Credit: Richard Thomas)

Michter’s keeps their sourcing cards very close to their chest, and nowhere more so than with their Unblended American Whiskey. Some websites state that this is basically bourbon aged in used barrels, similar to Early Times, but one only needs to take one sip of it to know that this whiskey is in a whole different ballpark. Also, when I asked about even the most general mashbill details at the Michter’s distillery, mum was the word. So what can we read from the hints provided?

The label itself refers to “bourbon-soaked barrels,” a clear reference to the use of ex-bourbon barrels. Because there is no neutral grain spirits in the mix, the whiskey is “unblended.” What has gone unremarked in the many descriptions of this product is that both of those stipulations point straight to Federal regulations regarding unqualified whiskey (i.e. whiskey that isn’t bourbon, rye, corn, wheat, malt, etc.), and what that means.

First, it means the spirit can be distilled to higher level than with “qualified” American whiskeys, but I must question if this was done with the source juice behind the Unblended American Whiskey. Compared to other whiskeys in its class, it is dramatically more flavorful, and that flavor can’t come entirely from the ex-bourbon barrels. Second, because this isn’t a straight whiskey, it 1) may or may not have a single grain comprising half or more of the mash; 2) may have a relatively high proportion of flavorings added, akin to Templeton Rye.

My exercise hasn’t really cleared anything up, but that was never the point. Instead, the intent was to look at what we know and what the regulations actually say, and with that done one realizes that Michter’s Unblended American Whiskey really is a mystery drink. A mystery, but like so much else Michter’s does, a tasty one.

The Whiskey
The liquid has a dark cast in the bottle, and retains it in the glass. It’s amber runs far into the brown end of that spectrum, like a reflective and viscous iced tea.

Bottled at an easy-drinking 83.4 proof (41.7% abv), the nose is a molasses and caramel bomb. The scent almost physically sticks to your nostrils, it’s that thick. Brushed on the top is a thin coat of timber and just a trace of ginger.

The flavor is just as sweet, a candy made with buckets of butterscotch and caramel and a handful of dried fruits thrown in. The spice evolves on the tongue, starting soft, but more prominent than in the nose, and growing peppery over time. A current of toasty wood throughout keeps things from becoming too sugary. The finish is defined by its lingering vanilla aftertaste and mildly prickly afterglow.

With so much caramel, one might wonder about that “bourbon-soaked” barrel reference, and just what that might imply beyond ex-bourbon barrels. Certainly this whiskey has a caramel candy aspect beyond what one expects from even the sweetest, most vanilla-impregnated bourbon, and is therefore a big flavor whiskey that somehow is also not a bold one.

The Price
Michter’s Unblended American Whiskey is typically available for $40 in the U.S. In Britain it is substantially more expensive, and expect to pay around £50.

8 comments

  1. Well-considered review! Knowing the folks at Michter’s, I’d be surprised if there was any flavoring here. They tend to be very whiskey-focused.

    I feel like there is a high corn content in the unblended, but who knows? It could also be a blend of new and used barrels, as was the original Pennsylvania Michter’s. I do think the unblended maintains the quality that the brand has come to represent, however.

    • I don’t think so either, but I’d be remiss in not mentioning flavorings in a discussion of what is possible.

      I thought about specifically mentioning that Michter’s generally prefers a lower-than-usual barrel entry proof too, but that preference may or may not be reflected in this particular whiskey, so I limited myself to casting doubt on a higher entry proof. The latter really doesn’t coincide with such a flavorful whiskey.

  2. Randall/BourbonBeast

    Entering at The lower entry proof gives them the ability to increase our access to a deeper flavor profile as it was explained to me at Michter’s. Also The fact that they combine toasting with the charring of their barrels gives the juice deeper access to the flavor hidden in the oak as I understand it.

  3. I enjoy Woodford Reserve right now. Is this similar in taste?

  4. Not a bourbon, gone awry
    Not so that Saz would mix
    Corn and barrel
    Neutral none
    Sip at 81

  5. I really like this, but I question the color. Seems its dark mahogany color would be hard to achieve with 2nd use barrels, especially at the low proofing. I suspect some color has been added. That being said, I don’t care. It’s delicious.

  6. I agree, whatever they’re doing at Michter’s it’s good and they should keep doing it. Its definitely not bourbon but it has a unique flavor all its own and will fit in your bar between the bourbon and rye very nicely.

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