Matt and I pick our Whiskey of the Month from the whiskeys that we taste each month. Once again, Michter’s has won this honor. The Ten Year Old Rye is an excellent whiskey and beat out Maker’s Mark The Heart Release in a blind tasting. Both are excellent whiskeys, however Matt and I agreed that the Michter’s was more complex and interesting in the flavor profile, thus deserving of this month’s honor.

Michter’s 10 Year Old Rye

Proof: 92.8

Age: 10 years old

Nose:

  • Mike: Rye grass, vanilla, caramel, citrus, baking spices and oak wood.
  • Matt: Vanilla, citrus, ginger and oak wood.

Taste:

  • Mike: Rye grass, vanilla, ginger, cardamom, citrus and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the spice is enhanced and the oak is a sweet oak – like fresh cut wood. Tasted with a pecan and the rye grassiness is brought forward with vanilla, caramel and ginger.
  • Matt: Vanilla, orange zest, lemon grass, ginger spice and oak wood. The dried cranberry made the orange a creamy orange sherbet flavor with vanilla latte. The pecan brought out vanilla and cocoa notes.

Finish:

  • Mike: Medium long with oak and ginger spice. The dried cranberry made the finish longer and spicier with lots of ginger. The pecan made the finish long and dry with oak and ginger and lingering caramel.
  • Matt: Medium long with oak, citrus and lingering vanilla. The dried cranberry made the finish sweeter with lingering orange sherbet and oak. The pecan made the finish longer with oak and caramel.

I would pair this fine rye whiskey with a Don Pepin Garcia Original cigar from My Father cigars. I think the rich tobacco and cedar spice in the smoke would bring out the spices and vanilla in the rye whiskey.

Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller