Michter’s 20 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon (2021) bottled at 114.2 proof — a $750 expression that merits close attention.
Nose
Dark amber. Thick legs on the side of the glass. Orange and apricot initially, followed by cloves, vanilla, chocolate, hazelnuts, and Graham crackers. This is deep and rich on the nose, with hints of tobacco and black pepper.
Palate
When I go back and read my tasting notes on the 25-year-old Michter’s, I described it as almost chewing on something solid. The 20-year doesn’t have quite that same level of mouthfeel, but it is creamy and sumptuous. Pecan pie, butterscotch chips, and buttery toast come to mind first. It then settles onto the back part of the tongue tasting like leather and pipe smoke, before a long, honeyed finish. If “warm” could be a flavor, this whiskey has it in spades.
Finish
In his own tasting notes, McKee found “intense notes of black cherry” in this whiskey. He’s certainly tasted a lot more of it than I have, and knows his business far better than I do. But I just didn’t find flavors reminiscent of dark cherries or prunes in here. What I did find was an excellent whiskey, very nearly the equal of its 25-year-old sibling. It’s complex, offering smells and tastes that continue to roll out at you in waves. If you have a chance to try it without taking out a second mortgage on your house, jump at it. My fishing buddies are in for a treat.
Verdict
Michter’s 20 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon (2021) is an exceptional expression that stands among the finest in its category. It rewards patience and attention in equal measure, and we recommend it without reservation — though at $750, one expects nothing less.
