Review: Michter’s US-1 Barrel Strength Straight Rye 2024

Last year saw the return of a full slate of Michter’s 10-year-old bottlings (bourbon and rye) plus a new Toasted Barrel Finish Rye and some other unicorns we unfortunately didn’t get a chance to sample. Missing from the 2023 release calendar was a Barrel Strength Straight Rye (which seems to happen when a toasted offering is on tap). Well, in case your 2022 bottling is on its last drops (or, more likely, long gone), a new Barrel Strength Rye is luckily first on deck for the Michter’s 2024 releases. As always, this is a single barrel product, so some variation is to be expected across barrels. The average proof for the March 2024 releases clocked in at 110.2 (a smidge higher than our sample). Thoughts follow.

I put the latest up against my 2022 sample, and there’s some impressive consistency here. The aroma remains hallmark, high-proof Kentucky-style rye with plenty of fresh pepper and baking spice to complement Michter’s time-tested oak profile with its soft smoke, chocolate, and old furniture notes. On the palate, this rye comes across a bit more mature and better balanced than even the impressive 2022 release. It’s chewy and rich with an even, simmering spice that feels almost as mature and approachable as the lower proof, 10-year-old expressions. Familiar notes of dark brown sugar, dried herbs, and plump, dark cherry give way to a decadent flourish of cinnamon buns and sweet black tea with lemon squeeze on the midpalate before dark chocolate and barrel char kick off a long, balanced finish accented by fading notes of seasoned oak and toffee. Hold on to your hats (and your wallets), Michter’s is coming out swinging for 2024. This may just be the best barrel strength rye to date.

110 proof. Reviewed: Barrel #24B0981.

A / $110 / michters.com

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