Michter's Barrel Strength Rye

[bicktrav]

Anyone tried this? Seems to be hitting the shelves. Worth checking out or pass?

[squire]

I would pass, $75.00 is too much to pay for Michters latest mystery. That comment doesn't address the question though which is difficult to answer because most of us have sampled whisky from the same sources under other brands and slapping a Michters label on the bottle doesn't change anything. If we can identify who made it that would provide some answers. If this is recycled HH product I don't see how one bottle of 108-110 proof Michters is worth more than three bottles of 100 proof Rittenhouse.

This is my quandry, I see something new and want it because it will provide a different taste sensation because it's new, right? Not necessarily, whisky from the same old sources is neither new nor different.

[bicktrav]

I would pass, $75.00 is too much to pay for Michters latest mystery. That comment doesn't address the question though which is difficult to answer because most of us have sampled whisky from the same sources under other brands and slapping a Michters label on the bottle doesn't change anything. If we can identify who made it that would provide some answers. If this is recycled HH product I don't see how one bottle of 108-110 proof Michters is worth more than three bottles of 100 proof Rittenhouse.

This is my quandry, I see something new and want it because it will provide a different taste sensation because it's new, right? Not necessarily, whisky from the same old sources is neither new nor different.

[amg]

The few tasting notes I've seen have stated that it tastes an awful lot like Rittenhouse.

[meadeweber]

The few tasting notes I've seen have stated that it tastes an awful lot like Rittenhouse.

So that begs the question, how much is a barrel proof Ritt worth?

[bicktrav]

So that begs the question, how much is a barrel proof Ritt worth?

I think the proof is only 8 or 13 (depending on the bottle) above where Rittenhouse is, so it shouldn't be a huge leap in price. To me, Rittenhouse drinks strong for 100, so if it is indeed that juice, or one of a similar ilk, I don't know if I'll enjoy it. I'll probably just end up watering it to at or below Rittenhouse.

[flahute]

I've been seeing discussions about this out there on the internets and twitter. I can't find them now of course, but generally what I've been reading is that it's good, but not at all worth the price. This is a common refrain in these parts, but it seems significant to see it out there where you usually see unbridled adoration for Michter's products and anything barrel proof.

[TunnelTiger]

Just my opinion but I never had a bottle of anything Mitcher's makes that I've enjoyed and that wouldn't have changed if they were less than $20.

But that's just me and I'm sure multitudes of others savor every sip.

[unclebunk]

I'm the other way around, having enjoyed, to varying degrees, everything I've bought across the entire range. I do, however, feel that nearly all of their products are overpriced and this one in particular is way too much money.

[squire]

. . . . what I've been reading is that it's good, but not at all worth the price. This is a common refrain in these parts, but it seems significant to see it out there where you usually see unbridled adoration for Michter's products and anything barrel proof.

True, reports abound, but this is where SB shines. When one of our members posts tasting notes one can be reasonably sure the poster has actually tasted the subject whisky. People can post willy nilly over the net about a whisky they have never even touched much less tasted.

[tanstaafl2]

I suppose I will know soon enough as I am one of those that picked up out of curiosity knowing it was likely overpriced. There doesn't seem to be much of it locally.

Just wish I had a reliable ball park age on it to know if it is grossly overpriced BP Ritt or more like the new 6yo Pikesville reportedly hitting the shelves soon at $50 or more. But I can't wait and try to figure it out as it will almost certainly be gone!

[squire]

Well do keep us posted.

[flahute]

True, reports abound, but this is where SB shines. When one of our members posts tasting notes one can be reasonably sure the poster has actually tasted the subject whisky. People can post willy nilly over the net about a whisky they have never even touched much less tasted.

I agree with your assessment of the attributes of our SB community, but I'm not sure if you followed what I was trying to say. Perhaps I said it poorly. What I meant was: the people on the net posting willy nilly that you refer to by and large tend to claim that NDP whiskies are "worth every penny" and that "I don't care where it's sourced as long as it's good", etc. It's as is if 1) they want to impress people with whatever latest high price "limited" whiskey the procured, and 2) convince themselves that it was worth the high price they paid by receiving kudos and congratulations for their purchase from people on the internet that they don't even know.

That is why I think it's something that these same people (who love all things Michter's) are saying that this one is good but not worth the price.

[AaronWF]

I bought one the other day but haven't opened it yet. I've heard musings that it comes from B-F, which makes sense along with the Ritt comparisons, i.e. barrel proof 354 Ritt. There isn't enough rye in the world theses days, especially barrel proof rye with corn in the mashbill. Actually that is priority #2 for me, #1 being an aged rye, but I suppose in a moment of weakness I gave them my money for priority #2. I've done worse...

[bicktrav]

I bought one the other day but haven't opened it yet. I've heard musings that it comes from B-F, which makes sense along with the Ritt comparisons, i.e. barrel proof 354 Ritt. There isn't enough rye in the world theses days, especially barrel proof rye with corn in the mashbill. Actually that is priority #2 for me, #1 being an aged rye, but I suppose in a moment of weakness I gave them my money for priority #2. I've done worse...

[signde]

i reviewed it a couple of weeks ago. i liked it for what it is which is something different from all the other cask strength ryes out there - the majority of which are MGP. i paid $70 which is probably too much but you have to ask yourself, how many other barrel proof kentucky straight ryes can you go buy right now? handy is the only one that comes to mind but good luck finding that. yes, it is overpriced but given the reality of a general hike in prices lately, i don't think $70 was horrible. at $50 a cask strength SAOS rye walks all over this in both taste and value but that's not a fair comparison now since that product is done.

as for this being recycled juice - isn't it a little more complicated than that? given the entry proof of 103, it's more likely contracted juice which means michter's had some say in the making. either that or this is a product made by one of the big names that said name doesn't offer. my point is it's different from anything else out there. having said that, it is a barely legal rye so it tastes a lot like a higher proof ritt. my gut says its brown-forman making this "old woodford antique rye" but i have no evidence to back that up.

Edited June 19, 2015 by signde

[amg]

as for this being recycled juice - isn't it a little more complicated than that? given the entry proof of 103, it's more likely contracted juice which means michter's had some say in the making. either that or this is a product made by one of the big names that said name doesn't offer. my point is it's different from anything else out there. having said that, it is a barely legal rye so it tastes a lot like a higher proof ritt. my gut says its brown-forman making this "old woodford antique rye" but i have no evidence to back that up.

Wouldn't be that hard for a major to dilute their standard rye down to 103 proof before putting it in the barrel. I guess that makes it a little more interesting, but I'm still not going to buy one.

[squire]

103 entry proof? Ha. Won't be the first time the new Michters bunch have made a comment that strained credulity. Could be a typo of course, one of those 'woops, we didn't really mean it' and blame the printers.

My first thought was Wild Turkey who did use a 107 entry proof not that way back and barrels aged in the cool, lower recesses of the warehouse could drop a couple of points but that's for aged stock and I don't think any Post Prohibition modern major producer has used 103 as an entry proof. 107 would also make sense if the average of the barrels is in the 108-111 range.

[squire]

I agree with your assessment of the attributes of our SB community, but I'm not sure if you followed what I was trying to say. Perhaps I said it poorly.

Steve it was I who was unclear, what with my propensity to wander off the Reservation. I don't place much value on the opinions of those who post price and accolades without giving me much else to go on. When I break down what the poster is actually saying all I hear is:

a) I can afford $550 for a bottle, and,

I'm such a good judge of whisky I'm qualified to tell you it's worth every penny.

Such comments without any qualification or tasting notes are not worth the time taken to be read. I've conducted enough blind tastings to find people who make such grand statements usually cannot tell Old Grand Dad from Weller 107 unless they got a glimpse of the labels first and even then it's a 50/50 guess.

[signde]

i don't really trust anything michter's says either but they make a pretty big deal about the 103 entry proof for this product on their website. it's not mentioned anywhere on the label though.

it was chuck's article from last year that made me think of them more in terms of a contract distiller than straight up bulk purchaser.

http://chuckcowdery.blogspot.com/2014/03/where-is-michters-distillery.html

regardless, the truth about the source of this bottle and whether it is just watered down (entry proof) rittenhouse/turkey rye/woodford rye will probably never be known. sure it's fun to talk about about but when push comes to shove the most important thing to me is how it tastes and how much it costs.

bottom line, it's good but not mind blowing. it is however something different. that's worth $70 to some people but not others, i get both sides of the argument.

[Jazz Nut]

Just bought a bottle of this tonight, barrel 15C200. I get a TON of traditional bourbon flavors of caramel, and almost an effervescence, longer finish with a bit of orange. Drinks very smoothly without any dilution. I will try and post more impressions, as my palate is not the best right now.