Michter's US★1 Original Sour Mash Whiskey is one of the most distinctive bottles in American whiskey, precisely because it refuses to fit neatly into a category. It is not a bourbon and it is not a rye. Michter's uses a unique grain selection with a fair amount of rye alongside a fair amount of corn and some barley malt, which keeps the corn content below the level required to call it bourbon, so it is bottled simply and proudly as sour mash whiskey. The name honors the traditional sour mash process, where a portion of previously fermented mash is used to start the next fermentation, much like a sourdough starter, ensuring consistency and depth from batch to batch. The brand traces its roots to 1753 and John Shenk's distillery in Pennsylvania, making it a nod to America's earliest whiskey heritage, and the modern Michter's revived this expression in its US★1 line in 2012 after the original had disappeared from the market. It has since become a genuine icon: in 2019 it was named Whisky of the Year by The Whisky Exchange, the first whiskey made in the United States ever to earn that honor. Distilled in small batches and matured in fire charred new American white oak barrels, it is bottled at 43 percent alcohol by volume. It pours a warm amber and opens with potent caramel, fresh apple, vanilla, cinnamon and a hint of nutmeg and anise. The palate is silky and instantly likable, layering butterscotch, vanilla, caramel, toffee, honeyed milk chocolate and candied cherry, with toasty campfire notes building mid palate. As the distillery puts it, it starts out like a bourbon and finishes like a rye. Enjoy it neat or on the rocks.
ABV / Proof
| Brand |
Michter's |
| Distillery |
Michter's Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky |
| Category |
American Sour Mash Whiskey (small batch) |
| Expression |
US★1 Original Sour Mash |
| Age |
No age statement |
| Maturation |
Fire charred new American white oak |
| ABV |
43% |
| Proof |
86 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
Tasting Notes
Color: Warm amber.
Nose: Potent caramel, fresh apple, vanilla and cinnamon with hints of nutmeg and anise.
Palate: Silky butterscotch, vanilla, caramel, toffee, honeyed milk chocolate and candied cherry.
Finish: Warm and smoky with lingering sweetness and gentle rye spice.
FAQ
Is Michter's Sour Mash a bourbon or a rye? Neither. Its grain recipe keeps the corn below the bourbon threshold and the rye below the rye threshold, so it is bottled as sour mash whiskey, a distinct American category.
What proof is it? It is bottled at 43 percent alcohol by volume, which is 86 proof.
What does sour mash mean? It refers to using a portion of previously fermented mash to start the next batch, similar to a sourdough starter, for consistency and depth of flavor.
Why is it well regarded? It was named Whisky of the Year for 2019 by The Whisky Exchange, the first United States whiskey to receive that honor.
How should I drink it? Neat or on the rocks to appreciate its silky, sweet profile.
Where can I buy Michter's US*1 Original Sour Mash Whiskey online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
