Michter’s periodically releases a ten year old Bourbon and this year is the first that they have released since Willie Pratt retired. Andrea Wilson and Pam Heilmann made the selection for this release and I have to say it is a very good selection. Pratt was often called “Dr. No.” because he refused to release a whiskey until it was ready. Wilson and Heilmann carry that same distinction in that they know when a whiskey is ready and do not release the barrels for bottling until it meets their standards.

This is a single barrel Bourbon and I am not ruling out the fact that the best barrel was sent to people like me in the media. This is a good bottle. This is a good “Book Bourbon” in that it gets better in the glass as it opens up and breathes. Take your time with this Bourbon and sip it over time. You will not regret it. It really takes on some nice brandy-like characteristics and becomes first honey and then milk chocolate in its sweetness.

Michter’s Single Barrel 10yo Bourbon

Proof: 94.4

Age: 10 years

Nose: Caramel and vanilla with some sweet corn, oak and fruit – ripe apples and pears. As it sits more chocolate and butterscotch come out on the nose and the fruit becomes darker like dates and berries.

Taste: Caramel and vanilla with a fruity note of berries and raisins with a bit of white pepper spice and oak. As it sits it becomes sweeter with honey and chocolate with pitted fruits – apricots, cherries and dates. Tasted with a dried cranberry brings out the sweet honey and chocolate while reducing the white pepper. Tasted with a pecan brings out some citrus notes and oak while it takes the pepper out of the flavor.

Finish: Very dry with oak and white pepper spice. As it sits the finish is a bit more rounded with chocolate notes being introduced. The cranberry makes the finish last longer and adds a little sweet baking spices while reducing the pepper. The pecan dries out the finish a bit more but removes the spice from the finish.

This is an excellent Bourbon and today I am pairing it with my favorite cigar – Nat Sherman Pan Americana Gordo, TAA select. This cigar takes the spice out of the Bourbon while opening up a real nice butterscotch and honey sweetness. The Bourbon adds a nice vanilla sweetness to the smoke complimenting the Bourbon quite well. I like this pairing. Rosemary has already claimed this bottle for her collection so I had better be on my best behavior to get to do this pairing again.

Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller