Michter’s 10 Year Old Single Barrel Rye Review (2021)

By Randall H. Borkus

Rating: A+

Michter’s 10 Year Old Single Barrel Rye is a regular, annual limited release. It is also a favorite at The Whiskey Reviewer; Richard Thomas and Kurt Maitland both swear by it. Although perhaps not as over-obsessed about as Thomas H. Handy or Sazerac 18 Year Old, it sounds like the rye has been gaining in popularity:

“We wish we had more 10 Year Rye whiskey to share with Michter’s fans. Unfortunately, we continue to struggle to meet demand on all of our whiskeys as these expressions require time and attention to detail to reach the peak quality level for which Michter’s is known. Despite the limited stocks, we believe Michter’s drinkers will be thrilled with the results of this year’s efforts,” said Michter’s Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson.

My tasting comes from Barrel # 21F1611, at 92.8 proof as always.

The Whiskey
The Diva bottle showing up on my doorstep creates a Pavlovian response: “I can’t wait to open the bottle and investigate this year’s version of this premium rye whiskey.”  The color in my Glencairn glass is an especially dark copper brown.  The legs are unrelenting as they embrace the inside of my glass giving the impression of syrup running down the inside of my glass.  The nose is sweat, oaky, and inviting with hints of a Royal Crimson Cherry candy.

The mouthfeel is elegant and creamy with nominal heat on the front palate.  The mid-palate is a layered flavor bomb with honied-oak, and a toasted barrel wholesomeness encrusted in a candied fruit pie.  This flavor profile is incredibly complex moving slowly over my palate edging into a sweet oaky conclusion.   The finish is the real deal with a Michter’s traditional a honied-sweetness, rolled into a delightful oak dryness.  This year’s expression is much more oaky than previous expressions and it drinks much older than a 10-year-old rye whiskey.

This is a sumptuous rye whiskey and as past years it is just so damn good it leaves me wanting another deep pour.

The Price
The suggested retail price has gone up recently, so it is now $170.