The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Michter's US*1 Sour Mash Whiskey
BourbonIssue 73

Michter's US*1 Sour Mash Whiskey

Michter's · Michter's Distillery

86 proofNASLouisville, Kentucky, USA
Michter's sour mash process — using a portion of previously fermented grain to set the pH of the new mash — creates a whiskey of uncommon smoothness without sacrificing depth. This is a bottle that demonstrates how restraint in proof and patience in barrel selection can produce something quietly authoritative.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Butterscotch and caramel open the nose with immediate warmth, followed by a thread of dried cherry and toasted oak. A subtle floral note — almost carnation — lingers beneath the sweetness.

Palate

The entry is buttery and soft, but a backbone of charred oak and brown spices keeps it from tipping into cloying territory. Mid-palate delivers vanilla and a faint corn sweetness that grounds the profile.

Finish

Medium length with maple syrup fading into gentle leather and a whisper of tobacco. The balance holds all the way through.

Specifications
Mash Bill
Proprietary (corn-dominant with rye and malted barley)
Barrel Type
New Charred American oak
Bottled in Bond
No
Single Barrel
No
Wheated
No
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

Sour Mash Sour — 2 oz Michter's Sour Mash · 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.5 oz rich demerara syrup · 1 dash Angostura bitters · Shake with ice, strain into a coupe, garnish with a lemon twist.

Food Pairing

Smoked pork belly with apple chutney

The Story

Crafted at Michter's Fort Nelson and Shively distilleries in Louisville, where master distiller Dan McKee oversees a sour mash regimen that dates its American roots to the 1750s Pennsylvania frontier.

Train These Aromas
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