Old bourbon isn’t always good bourbon… except when it is. And sometimes, it is really, really good, as is usually the case when it comes to Michter’s 20-year-old expression. This well-aged bourbon has returned for 2025, and after two decades maturing in barrels this expensive, high-proof bottle sounds like it’s a good example of how careful monitoring can yield a superb whiskey—even after spending so much time in casks.
Michter’s 20 Year Bourbon was first released over a decade ago in 2012, a few years before its own distillery came online. While Michter’s has been busy making whiskey that goes into its younger expressions in recent years, obviously these older releases are still made up of contract-distilled whiskey, although the source is not revealed (you can find some likely suspects if you do a little bit of internet sleuthing). Last year’s release of the 20 Year was the first in two years, because apparently the barrels that would have gone into the 2023 expression were not quite up to snuff, but this year marks the return to an annual release.
There have been some other recent examples of bourbon on the much older side that is still very good. Redemption’s 18-year-old from last spring was truly fantastic, and the recent Knob Creek 21 surpassed expectations (it’s even better than the younger 18-year-old version in that lineup). Still, Michter’s president Joe Magliocco acknowledges the difficulties in executing this. “By law bourbon must be aged in a brand-new barrel, which imparts flavor, color and oak character more quickly than a used barrel,” he said in a statement. “To age a whiskey that will taste wonderful after two decades in a first-use barrel is an extremely difficult endeavor that requires a skillful balance of art and science. I believe that people will appreciate the thoughtful and conscientious work of our production team when they taste this exceptional whiskey.”
We have not yet been able to sample this year’s release, which was bottled at 114.3 proof, but master of maturation Andrea Wilson has some tasting notes. “Michter’s 20 Year Bourbon is an exemplary representation of how oak can be used to deepen vanilla, toffee, chocolate, spice, fruit, and confectionery notes that enhance complexity in bourbon,” she said. “We hope that everyone who gets the opportunity to taste this product is able to experience the beloved attributes of a beautiful, timeless bourbon crafted through intentional aging.”
You can find Michter’s 20 Year Bourbon available starting this month at specialty retailers around the country (SRP $1,200), and previous releases are still available on the secondary market for heavily inflated prices.
Authors
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Jonah Flicker