The Michter’s brand has a storied history. Though not always called Michter’s (it also has gone by the names Bomberger’s, and Pennco at different times), the brand was created in 1753 in Pennsylvania, was the top-selling whiskey in the 1970s and 1980s, went bankrupt in 1989, and then was revived in the 1990s. In 2019, the company opened their own distilling facilities in the historic 1890 Fort Nelson building in downtown Louisville after an 8 year, $8 million renovation of the decrepit building.
Michter's US*1 Barrel Strength Rye Whiskey is made primarily of rye grains, though the exact mashbill is undisclosed. Once the grains have been fermented, they are distilled through a copper pot still. The rye distillate enters the barrels at 103 proof, which is considerably lower than than many other brands.
Located at 801 West Main Street in the heart of downtown Louisville, Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery is across the street from the Louisville Slugger Museum & Bat Factory and down the block from the Frazier History Museum, which has been designated the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Welcome Center and serves as the official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. Join us for a guided tour and tasting to learn about our “Cost Be Damned” approach to producing the highest quality American whiskeys and enjoy a drink at the world-class Bar at Fort Nelson. Online reservations are strongly recommended, but walk-ins will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Process
Cooperage
We Pay Careful Attention to the Wood Used in the Construction of Our Barrels
We are specifying wood that has been thoroughly and properly dried, sometimes for as long as 18-48 months, in order to enhance the natural properties of the wood which allow for better flavor and to reduce the levels of tannin imparted to the whiskey.
Toasting & Charring
The Barrels Made to Our Specifications Are Toasted Before Charring
Toasting a barrel before charring helps to make the wood’s sugars more accessible. These sugars caramelize and concentrate to form the "red line" in the barrel stave cross-sections due to the heat, ultimately adding more flavor and color to the whiskey as it seeps through the char to the caramel red line.
Low Entry Proof
We Enter Our Rye and Bourbon Into Barrels at 103 Proof (51.5% ABV)
Although the typical industry entry proof is 125 proof, we believe that the lower 103 proof (51.5% ABV) level – which was historically regarded as the gold standard in Kentucky – allows for the concentrated sugars in the toasted and charred wood to dissolve more readily into the distillate as it cycles in and out of the barrel. Even though the lower entry proof yields fewer bottles per barrel, we believe that the smooth flavor and richer mouthfeel makes it worth it.
Heat Cycling
We Heat Cycle Our Barrels During Their Aging
The more often whiskey expands and contracts ("cycles") soaking in and then out of the wood of the barrel, the more flavor it absorbs from the sugars in the caramelized red line of the wood. Heat cycling is an uncommon practice used to raise and lower the temperatures in the barrel warehouses to induce extra cycles within a given year. This practice is extremely costly because heat cycling significantly increases the "Angel Share" evaporation during aging, but in most cases enhances the flavor of the whiskey.
Heat Cycling
We Heat Cycle Our Barrels During Their Aging
The more often whiskey expands and contracts ("cycles") soaking in and then out of the wood of the barrel, the more flavor it absorbs from the sugars in the caramelized red line of the wood. Heat cycling is an uncommon practice used to raise and lower the temperatures in the barrel warehouses to induce extra cycles within a given year. This practice is extremely costly because heat cycling significantly increases the "Angel Share" evaporation during aging, but in most cases enhances the flavor of the whiskey.
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All orders usually ship within 24-48 hours unless noted otherwise