If you enjoy the hunt for bourbon and whiskey and have had one of those amazing days, then you can relate to this bottle. About one year ago, we were on our way to visit my parents, about 30 minutes away, and we decided to stop by one of the local stores in their city. We walked in, headed over to the bourbon section, and right there on the endcap in a glass case, this beautiful, shimmering, gorgeous bottle of bourbon sat there staring at me and whispering “take me home” with an amazing price at MSRP. How could I say no? Today’s review comes from the Michter’s Distillery and is the 2021 edition of Michter’s Bourbon Single Barrel 10-Year.

From the Michter’s website: Mature in age and truly exceptional in quality, Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon has earned its place as an enduring favorite of the most discerning whiskey connoisseurs. The “Best American Whiskey” according to Food & Wine magazine, our 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon represents the culmination of over a decade of patient aging in specially chosen, new charred American white oak barrels. When a private barrel selection bottling of this whiskey sold for £166,000 (US$ 209,462) at an auction in London on July 12th 2020, it shattered the previous $78,000 record for a barrel of bourbon that had been set at a Christie’s auction.

For those who do not know, this is quite a rare, limited, annual-release bottle of bourbon that I have only ever seen once in the past three years. On a side note, I have seen the Michter’s 10-Year-Old Rye once as well, but passed as it was priced at over $400; too much markup for my blood. Overall, this is one of the best bourbons I have tried to date, and this bottle will probably be on my lifetime list for years to come. Perfectly balanced, with an amazing nose and palate that puts many bourbons to shame, this is a must-buy bottle for those who might be lucky enough to have a chance. At a minimum, this bottle is a must-try if your local whiskey bar offers a tasting of it. With that said, let’s get our taste on!

• Nose: Tons of Fruit with Notes of Dark Cherry, Berries, and Banana. Additional Notes of Vanilla, Butterscotch, Cinnamon, and Oak
• Palate: Sweetness Galore with Notes of Cherry, Banana, Baking Spices, Vanilla, and Oak
• Finish: Initially Short but Builds to Medium with Additional Sips. Sweet Vanilla and Fruit Ending in Dry Oak
• 2022 MSRP: $119
• 2022 National Average: $249
• Proof: 94.4
• My Rating: Save It! (I will miss this bottle!)

Please remember, drinking bourbon is a personal adventure, so do not be afraid to drink it neat, with ice, or add some water. It’s your bourbon, you bought it, and you should enjoy it how you want to enjoy it!

Cheers! Prost! Sláinte!

Bourbon Bossman