Vanguard Luxury Brands is proud to announce the arrival of the Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon and the return of the highly popular Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye whiskey, both in strictly limited quantities.
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon (aka Toasted Bourbon)
All Michter’s barrels are toasted first, then charred. Toasting is like a fireplace fire, where a low intensity flame gently toasts the inside of the barrel for over an hour. This brings the sugars to the surface of the wood, known as the “red line”. On the other hand, charring takes less than a minute and is an intense flame. The wood looks like alligator skin when it is done.
Michter’s Toasted Bourbon is Michter’s US*1 Bourbon (from a toasted, then charred barrel) then finished in second barrel for three to four weeks. The second barrel has been air-dried for 18 months and is only toasted, not charred. It is tested every other day to ensure it doesn’t become too woody. Michter’s toasted bourbon has a nuttier flavour with notes of marshmallow and a campfire smokiness. It maintains the same ABV as Michter’s US*1 Bourbon of 45.7%.
“This is the first time we have seen this product in Australia and it is truly remarkable”, says James France from Vanguard. “The time spent in the toasted-only barrel yields magnificent results.”
Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye
A Kentucky Straight Rye, Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye is bottled at barrel strength rather than the 42.4% alcohol level of Michter’s US*1 Single Barrel Rye. The barrel entry alcohol content for the product was 51.5%, a strength that Michter’s believes will yield a richer, smoother product than a higher entry proof would. This lower barrel-entry proof is costly because it means using and warehousing more casks than a higher entry proof whiskey.
After ageing, the alcohol content for the Australian allotment has yielded bottles with 54% alcohol. (The alcohol content increases during ageing as water evaporates through the casks over time.)
“Whenever we would sample right out of the US*1 Rye barrels, we loved the whiskey. We thought that our loyal US*1 Single Barrel Rye customers would enjoy tasting some at barrel strength,” said Michter’s President Joseph J. Magliocco.
Tasting notes: butterscotch and cinnamon with a hint of cherries on the nose; warming, rich toasty vanilla and caramel up front with a dry oaky spice on the finish.
France finishes by adding: “We don’t have much of either whiskey in our allocation and we don’t expect any more of them to be available until mid-2016 at the earliest if we are lucky.”
Please contact your Vanguard rep for more information. You can also call 1300 DRINKS or visit vanguardluxurybrands.com.au.