Michter's 20 Year Old Bourbon 2018 I1371 (The Honey Batch)

Michter's 20 Year Old Bourbon 2018 I1371 "The Honey Batch" is a remarkable vintage from Michter's limited annual 20-year Kentucky straight bourbon program. The batch code "I1371" identifies this as a 2018 production run, and the nickname "The Honey Batch" documents the specific tasting notes that distinguished this particular selection — an unusually honey-forward expression within the already exceptional 20-year program. Michter's 20 Year is released in very small quantities — typically fewer than 1,000 cases annually — and each batch is hand-selected by master distiller Dan McKee only when barrels have reached the precise character threshold. Non-chill filtered, bottled at 57.1% ABV (114.2 proof).

The 2018 vintage is particularly sought after. The "Honey Batch" nickname given to I1371 indicates extraordinary character at the barrel selection stage — a level of sweetness and depth that distinguished it from other 20-year releases. Earlier Michter's 20 Year vintages (2016-2019) are now significantly harder to find as demand for the brand has accelerated sharply.

Tasting Notes — "The Honey Batch"

• Nose: Warm honey, dark caramel, toasted oak, vanilla, dried fruit, baking spice — luxuriously aromatic
• Palate: Extraordinary richness — honey-drenched toffee, brown sugar, charred barrel, dark chocolate, 20 years of concentrated sweetness and depth
• Finish: Extraordinarily long, warm, and sweet with persistent oak and honey-glazed spice

Product Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Michter's 20 Year considered one of the most collectible American bourbons?

Michter's releases their 20 Year only when master distiller Dan McKee determines a barrel has reached peak quality — no fixed annual date, no guaranteed supply. Total production is under 1,000 cases per vintage. Each batch is documented with a batch code, making it one of the most precisely tracked limited-release programs in American whiskey. The 20-year age statement is extremely rare in the bourbon category — very few distilleries produce bourbon at this maturity level.

What makes the "Honey Batch" nickname significant?

Michter's team occasionally gives informal nicknames to batches with distinctive character profiles when selecting barrels. "The Honey Batch" for I1371 indicates this 2018 release showed unusually pronounced honey sweetness at tasting — a characteristic that made it stand out even within the already exceptional 20-year program. Batch nicknames are informally circulated in the collector community and documented in secondary market listings.

How does the 2018 Michter's 20 Year compare to other vintages?

Each Michter's 20 Year vintage differs based on which specific barrels were selected. The 2018 release (I1371) is one of the middle vintages of the modern Michter's era — after the distillery fully rebuilt in Louisville but before demand caused the brand to become nearly impossible to find at retail. Secondary market premiums on 2018 and earlier vintages have increased substantially since release.