There are a whole lot of barrel-proof whiskeys out there, and many of them are quite high in alcohol—in fact, we covered one from Buffalo Trace sister distillery A. Smith Bowman just yesterday. But Michter’s new US*1 Barrel Strength Rye clocks in at a relatively low average of 110.5 proof, and that is in fact a key reason why this whiskey is so good.
I’m not completely dismissing high-proof whiskeys. In fact, I generally love Jim Beam Small Batch Collection member Booker’s when it surpasses 125 proof, and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof can be very tasty even when approaching 130 proof. And in the scotch whisky world, last year’s Daftmill Cask Strength single malt was one of my favorites at 58.7 percent ABV. But there are some whiskey fans who crave high-proof spirits the way others will seek out intensely hoppy beer or extremely bitter amaro: the more extreme, the better, full stop. That’s all well and good, to each their own. But on the other side of spectrum are those who think high-ABV whiskey is getting out of hand, pointing at recent releases like Jack Daniel’s Coy Hill series, hazmat expressions from Frey Ranch and Kings County, and even the recent bourbon from Woodford Reserve that was the strongest to date from the distillery at 139.4 proof.
Then there are those distilleries that release barrel-proof whiskeys that are much, much lower strength. Maker’s Mark is one, with the range of its Cask Strength expression landing somewhere between 108 and 114 proof. Wild Turkey Rare Breed sits just under 117 proof. And the whiskey in question, the 2025 release of Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Rye, clocks in at an average of 110.5 proof, which means it’s enjoyable even for people that might shy away from stronger whiskeys. This lower strength is due to the fact that Michter’s rye goes into barrels at 103 proof, which is even lower than Wild Turkey and Maker’s Mark. That means that while the level of alcohol might rise while the whiskey is aging and water evaporates, it’s still going to be less than other brands and there’s no loss of flavor from dilution before bottling.
It’s important to mention that this is a single-barrel release, so depending on which barrel your bottle comes from, the actual proof ranges from 107.4 to 115.2—which is still pretty low even on the latter end. Michter’s doesn’t disclose its mashbill, but the rye is thought to be in the “barely legal” category, containing somewhere just above the required 51 percent rye grain with the rest being corn and barley.
“We often have people at a tasting that say they are not rye drinkers, but when they taste Michter’s they are surprised by how much they enjoy it,” said master distiller Dan McKee in a statement. “This Kentucky style rye at barrel strength is another fantastic way to enjoy the traditional characteristics of a rye whiskey while offering a nice balance of sweetness and spice.” Master of maturation Andrea Wilson adds her own tasting notes, describing baking spice, dark fruit, toffee, fragrant citrus, and floral notes on the palate, followed by a round, complex finish.
Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Rye is available starting this month (SRP $120), but check whatever website or store you are perusing to see what the year of release is. You can find other Michter’s whiskeys available to purchase now from websites like ReserveBar.
