Michter’s adds barrel strength rye to range

Kentucky-based whiskey brand Michter’s has unveiled a new barrel strength rye whiskey due to launch in April.

US*1 Barrel Strength Rye is a single barrel release bottled at 55.4% abv, said to be a “super smooth, rich and complex rye whiskey”. Michter's master distiller Pamela Heilmann said: "Since I joined Michter's, I've developed a greater appreciation of how good American Rye can be. I think this US*1 Barrel Strength Rye is really exceptional." The new whiskey uses an increased amount of corn and barley in its mash bill, creating a “rye whiskey with an elegance on the palate”. According to Michter's president Joseph J Magliocco, the idea to offer a barrel strength rye came from tasting different barrel samples at the distillery. He said: "We would be sampling barrels of Michter's US*1 Single Barrel Rye before putting them to bottling proof, and people would say: 'Wow, this is really good.'" Michter's US*1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey carries an RRP of US$75 per 750ml bottle and will be available in specialist retailers across the US. Earlier this year, the American whiskey producer opened its Fort Nelson Distillery in Louisville, which features a tasting room, gift shop and bar.