Produced in small batches in Kentucky, Michter's US 1 Unblended American Whiskey is aged in white oak barrels that once contained bourbon.
The appellation requires the use of 1st hand casks, so it's not officially a "bourbon", which makes it an original whiskey, and the result is there!
The Batch number is indicated on the bottle.
Tasting notes from Thomas
The nose brings with it scents typical of American productions. Vanilla and caramel mingle as the varnished wood grows. Dried flower petals (lavender, rose, peony), dehydrated pineapple and orange zest follow.
Aeration brings sweet almond and spices ranging from green pepper to clove. Hints of rice cakes and graphite follow. Finally, a touch of encaustic gives this nose enough diversity to surprise.
The palate is lively despite its low alcohol content. Initial contact with the whisky delivers its share of wood and spice (pepper, cinnamon, clove) without drifting into excessive dryness. In fact, toasted wood, orange zest and the vanilla-caramel blend are quickly revealed. Here and there, a few cooked fruits (apples in particular) and coconut milk provide a pleasant sensation of sweetness.
The spice and wood on the finish keep this Michter's on the palate. There's a slight bitterness from the citrus fruit and a spoonful of applesauce with cinnamon and caramel. A hint of cocoa remains on the palate.
" A whiskey that doesn't shy away from its woody, spicy heritage while retaining an underlying roundness... "
