Michter’s 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon Review (2023)

By Randall H. Borkus

Average Rating: A

Michter’s 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon for 2023
(Credit: Richard Thomas)

Last month saw Michter’s Distillery release a new edition of its 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon. That is a big deal because unlike most of its peer labels, Michter’s 10 Year Old doesn’t necessarily come out every year, and it wasn’t shipped in 2022.

Michter’s President Joseph J. Magliocco said, “I thought that the 10 Year Bourbon we are now releasing was drinking beautifully last year, but our Master Distiller Dan McKee and our Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson told me that with one more year of maturation it would be extraordinary. … We’re grateful for all the understanding and patience that our loyal Michter’s fans have shown in waiting an additional year for the release of our 10-Year Bourbon.”

Master Distiller Dan McKee added, “One of the most important things I learned from our late Master Distiller Willie ‘Dr. No’ Pratt was patience. He would not release a product unless he felt it was at its peak maturation … Last year, Andrea and I tasted the then already well over 10-year-old bourbon and spoke about it. We both felt that it would be exceptional with one more year in the barrel. I’m so excited about how it turned out.”

Well Michter’s did not disappoint me in the least bit this year. This is a very impressive whiskey that is going to turn some heads!

The Bourbon
I have the good for fortune to have an open 2021 Michter’s 10 Year Old Bourbon, so I poured a side by-side, as I try to do each year. The 2021 expression is still delicious; however, there is a lot more going on with the 2023 Michter’s 10 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon.

My bottle is #23A0269 at 94.4 proof.

The color is dark charred-honied amber which is just beautiful in my Glencairn. The nose reminds me of the candy coating on French burnt peanuts we used to buy when I was a kid at the carnival (but without the peanuts here), sporting a genuine corn sugar note with a touch of burnt Crème brûlée.

The front and mid-palette are rich, viscous, and slightly dry with a full grasping mouthfeel in my cheeks. The mid-palate is loaded with hints of fermented cherry custard, honeyed vanilla and a dry oak essence.

The finish is full bodied and warming with a fresh oak core wrapped in Vanilla bean dusted with a nutty walnut dryness.

I added a few drops of water and the whiskey further opens with hints dried raisins sprinkled with cinnamon carefully wrapped in a splash of vanilla-caramel. The finish is ongoing as I find hints of Grandpa’s brand new leather chair sprinkled with a touch of cinnamon spice.

Finally, the afterglow of my empty Glencairn is just phenomenal with mature oak and honey notes you only find in older more distinguished bourbon whiskey!

The bottom line in this is an exceptional bourbon whiskey that drinks much older than 10 years for me.

When I compare 2023 to my 2021 expression, the 2023 Michter’s 10 Year Old drinks more like a 15 year old bourbon. Please understand that is merely my impression as all I know for sure is that the Michter’s 10 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon is older than 10 years. I will seek out another a bottle because I will need a backup in my collection as this bottle is going to disappear before summer gets here as I need to share it with my friends.

Addendum by Richard Thomas

I also got to try the 2023 Michter’s 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon, and my own take on the nose was a deep, earthy current of caramel and nougat, plus some candy corn and cherry-driven sweetness and a sliver of oak. The oaky end grows and turns cinnamon-spicy on the palate, but otherwise it shares that balance of candy bar caramel on the one hand, and dried cherries, raisins and candy corn on the other. The finish is quite light, but lasting, rolling off with equal measures of sweet and spicy.

I almost always prefer the Michter’s 10 Year Old Rye over the bourbon, but that said, this stuff always merits its place as one of the best bottles available in the $150 to $200 price range. This year, I’d pick it over Weller 12 for sure.

The Price
The 2023 Michter’s 10 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon has a suggested retail price of $185 per 750ml bottle.