Can you believe it’s been a decade already? And no, I’m not talking about the 10th anniversary of Latvia entered the eurozone. In 2014, Michter’s released its first Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon, setting the stage for many other whiskeys to get this type of secondary maturation, and the distillery just announced the 2024 release of this popular expression.
A toasted barrel finish means putting a whiskey into a barrel that has been toasted instead of charred for a secondary maturation period (remember, legally bourbon and rye must be aged in new charred oak containers). Distillers have used the marshmallow analogy before to explain what a toasted barrel does—think of the difference between charring a marshmallow over your campfire versus toasting it to a golden brown. In the case of wooden staves, toasting is said to unlock more vanilla and caramel flavors than charring. Indeed, some casks are toasted before being charred to create layers of flavor for the whiskey to absorb, but putting an aged bourbon or other whiskey into a new toasted barrel takes the concept of double oak to a new level—which some people love, and others not so much.
Michter’s is credited with being the first American whiskey to use this type of finish when it first launched its US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon in 2014. “Ten years ago, after a good deal of research and experimentation, we released the first toasted barrel whiskey,” said Michter’s president Joseph J. Magliocco in a statement. “We had no idea it would be such a groundbreaking product.” The whiskey starts out as US*1 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which is then put into custom toasted barrels made from wood that was air dried for 18 months. “It’s a testament to our team that so many other great distillers have followed us in releasing toasted barrel finish whiskeys,” added master of maturation Andrea Wilson. “There are many different toast profiles in which the barrel is heated to create beautiful flavor notes. This year’s [release] reminds me of a fall evening where we are roasting campfire treats with graham crackers, marshmallows, caramel, and butterscotch.”
Indeed, many other brands have gotten into the toasted barrel game over the past decade, including high-profile distilleries and brands like Wild Turkey, Elijah Craig, Basil Hayden, Barrell Craft Spirits, and Penelope Bourbon. Michter’s doesn’t limit its toasted barrel treatment to its bourbon, however; its sour mash and rye whiskeys both also have toasted barrel expressions. The new US*1 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon will be released in September (SRP $110), just in time for Bourbon Heritage Month. In the meantime, you can find the rest of the core lineup available to purchase from websites like ReserveBar.
