Make no mistake, 20 years is pretty old for a bourbon. That is not the case when it comes to scotch or even Irish whiskey, both of which are aged in much more temperate, forgiving climates (and often in used barrels), meaning the influence of wood is reduced. But 20 years of cold winters and stifling summers in Kentucky is a lot. Still, Michter’s manages to bottle bourbon that hasn’t turned into a tannic oak bomb for its limited-edition 20-year-old expression, which just returned to the lineup for the first time since 2022.
According to the Michter’s marketing team, master distiller Dan McKee and master of maturation Andrea Wilson “approved” the release of the new 20-year-old bourbon. That’s because this whiskey is much too old to have been produced at the distillery–instead, these barrels are sourced and watched over as they continue to mature, only to be dumped and bottled when they are ready. I’m not the only one with concerns about how a bourbon this old might taste, as Michter’s president Joseph J. Magliocco made clear in a statement. “It’s always a special event for us… when we bottle and release some whiskey that is over two decades old,” he said. “Unlike scotch and some other aged spirits, bourbon has to mature in a new barrel. Reaching ages beyond 15 years without the whiskey getting too woody is an achievement that our team strives for.”
I wish I had gotten to try this new whiskey, but sadly that is not the case. I have been fortunate enough to try a previous release or two, however, and they were superb—rich with classic notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak, along with some spice, dried and stone fruits, pepper, and leather on the palate. Obviously, each release of the 20-year-old bourbon (114.2 proof) will vary, although unlike the 10-year-old expression this is not a single barrel whiskey. Allow Wilson to provide some tasting notes of her own: “Michter’s 20 Year is a remarkable drinking experience,” she said in a statement. “It’s luxurious and expansive—a broad palate of flavor that culminates in a viscous, dark, and richly complex finish. Taking over two decades in the making, this bourbon doesn’t just taste good, it evokes a piece of that timeless history, of life’s warm and glowing moments.”
This release comes on the heels of Michter’s being named number one on the World’s Most Admired Whiskeys list compiled by journalists, bartenders, and whiskey experts from around the world for Drinks International. That’s a a nice honor, but hopefully not as nice as this whiskey is. The new Michter’s 20 Year is a very limited release, and you should expect to pay much more than the suggested retail price of $1,200 if you find a bottle. You can find previous editions for more than quadruple that on the secondary market if you’d like to compare releases.
