One of the premiere whiskey brands on the planet is bringing back one of the most sought after bourbons ever.
For the first time in two years, bottles of Michter’s 20 Year are returning to shelves in all their silver wax-dipped glory. And the liquid within is as stunning as any previous incarnation of the cult classic. We ought to know, since we scored an advanced taste of the frustratingly limited release.
It’s only fitting that the 2024 edition arrives just in time for the holiday season, because this juice is a veritable sugar plum fairy. The 114.2-proof liquid surrenders all sorts of dark fruit tones as it rests patiently in a snifter. Allowing it time to sit before the first sip slowly reveals molasses subtleties to match the near-maple syrup-like viscosity of its burnt amber body.
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When it finally brushes over the palate, it paints a brilliant collage of well-composed sweetness. Dates, sherry-soaked Christmas cake, and cocoa-dusted almonds are the stars of the show. They eventually cede the stage to that aforementioned fleshy fruit in a warming, protracted finish.
The fact that oak isn’t even among the top tasting notes is something of a holiday miracle. Aging in new charred barrels through hot and humid summers, Kentucky straight bourbon traditionally hits a sweet spot after 10 or so years of aging. Much of it becomes unbalanced with wood notes by age 15. In lesser hands, a 20-year bourbon risks being more about marketing than merit. But this isn’t Michter’s first rodeo.
“Reaching ages beyond 15 years without the whiskey getting too woody is an achievement that our team strives for,” confirms Michter’s president, Joseph J. Magliocco.
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Indeed, the brand specializes in extra-aged excellence, often offering balance in an even older 25-year expression—another hallmark of the brand’s impressive portfolio. To achieve these enviable results, master of maturation Andrea Wilson oversaw the precious endeavor herself. She tirelessly sampled through casks as they aged, pulling aside vessels she deemed most likely to withstand extended time in temperature-controlled warehouses. Since no two casks are exactly the same, her organoleptic odyssey is as much an art as it is a science.
“The Michter’s 20 Year is a remarkable drinking experience,” Wilson says of her latest masterpiece. “It’s luxurious and expansive; a broad palate of flavor that culminates in a viscous, dark, and richly-complex finish. This bourbon doesn’t just taste good, it evokes a piece of that timeless history, of life’s warm and glowing moments. It’s truly a once in a lifetime bourbon.”
The new whiskey arrives at quite the auspicious moment for Michter’s. The Kentucky-based operation has just been named the World’s Most Admired Whiskey Brand by Drinks International, an consortium of heralded drinks writers, for the second year running. Couple that with the scant nature of this release—less than 600 bottles in total—and you’ll see it as a bargain at the suggested retail price of $1,200. If you even see it at all, that is.
“We only wish we had more to offer,” laments Magliocco. It’s a sentiment that’ll soon be echoed by bourbon fans everywhere.
Related: Don't Listen to Whiskey Snobs. Here Are the Best Ways to Enjoy Bourbon
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