The Best Years For Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye

By Richard Thomas

Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye was the expression that prompted our Deputy Editor to coin the phrase “stronger whiskey is better whiskey.” The caveat there is that Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye is just strong enough. What makes it such an enjoyable cask strength whiskey is the distillery’s entry proof of 103. That is much lower than normal, especially among the Kentucky Majors (i.e. big distillers), with the intent being that the extra water in the barrel nudges the maturation chemistry and improves the flavor outcomes.

The practice also has the effect of starting the whiskey off in maturation at a strength just 1 1/2 points above where bottled in bond whiskeys are bottled. One isn’t going to see a whiskey entered into the barrel at 103 proof rise to Hazmat levels of potency whatever happens during maturation, and this expression ranges between 107 and 112 proof. The result is something that is barrel proof while remaining imminently drinkable as is in the bottle, no water necessary.

Adding to its quality is the mystique of being only periodically released; the practice at Michter’s for all their limited edition whiskeys is to not release them on an annual basis. Sometimes one will see Michter’s limited edition whiskeys released every year, but one may also see an interval of one, two or even three years before the next batch comes out.

Bring cask strength and not under any control pressure to release a solidly consistent flavor profile, Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye varies from batch to batch. The expression was created in 2015, and at The Whiskey Reviewer we have followed every single batch, which reached five in total by 2024. With five in hand, the time has come to rank the entire series as it stands today:

1. Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye 2016
The best bottling of this expression yet was eight years ago, with the 111.8 proof batch of 2016. As described by Kurt Maitland, our deputy editor, he thought it slightly better than the 2015 batch and “a beautiful rye.”

2. Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye 2019
Next was the only release under the Master Distiller’s tenure of Pamela Heilmann, which came out at 110.9 proof. Our review called particular attention to its complexity compared against the 2015 and 2016 releases.

3. Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye 2015
This batch came out at 109.2 proof, and was the one that kicked off not just this series, but all the barrel proof expressions at Michter’s. Cask strength versions of their bourbon and sour mash whiskey would follow.

4. Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye 2024
I reviewed this 110.2 proof version of Michter’s US*1 Rye just two months ago, and described it like this: in baseball terms, it hits a triple. Some of the past batches have been home runs, and I think one (see below) only just squeaked out that triple base hit. This one did it comfortably.

5. Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye 2022
This is the expression that underscores just how good Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye really is. It bottoms the list, but something as going to have to bottom the list. It’s still one of the best whiskeys in its class, equal to or better than any other high octane rye whiskey on the market. This one came in at 109.2 proof.