Michter’s 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon Review (2026)

By Randall H. Borkus

Rating: A

Although it is never assured, fans of Michter’s 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon got releases for both 2025 and 2026, two years in a row. Dating back to the days of their first Master Distiller Willie Pratt, who was dubbed “Dr. No” for refusing to bottle releases until they were deemed ready, it is still the case to this day that Michter’s sometimes skips a year with its limited expressions.

Dan McKee commented on this: “From its inception, the expression has been marked by variable gaps between releases, because not enough barrels had reached the desired maturity and readiness. Because barrels even next to each other in the rickhouse don’t necessarily all age the same, we overage our whiskey and wait beyond the ten year mark and then select fully matured barrels for Michter’s 10 Year Bourbon. Our team is excited when we have 10 Year Bourbon that we feel is up to our high standards and ready to release.”

The Bourbon
The color is a dark amber in my Glencairn. The nose welcomed me with sweet burnt brown sugars, honey, vanilla bean and a hint of oak. This nose really stood out and grabbed my attention.

The front and mid-palate sported a soft viscus mouthfeel leading to a flavor cornucopia loaded with dark fruits, caramel, vanilla bean, a sweet sherried mocha candy and a hint of nutty oak dryness. The finish was full bodied, long and syrupy with hints of Caramel, vanilla bean, oak spice, and mocha dust. This finish reminded me of caramel cake with vanilla buttercream, or a vanilla bean caramel blondie desert.

The mouthfeel and palate flavors continue well into the finish. The whiskey is so approachable, viscus pleasantly coating my tongue with each sip. What an elegant bourbon!

This is a must have for your home bar.  I also recommend a backup should you be so fortunate—as you are going to need it once your guests find it on your shelf!

The Price
The 2026 Michter’s 10 Year Old Bourbon is bottled at a perfect 94.4 Proof (47.2% ABV), and has a suggested retail price of $195 for a 750ml bottle in the U.S. Market value, or what one might pay to acquire a bottle on demand, is closer to $300.