{"product_id":"michters-us-1-toasted-barrel-finish-kentucky-straight-rye-whiskey-2026-release-750ml","title":"Michter's US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 2026 Release 750ml","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMichter’s created the toasted barrel finish style in 2014 with a bourbon finished in a second barrel that had been toasted instead of charred, and in 2017 it applied the same idea to rye. Each fall, the Toasted Barrel Finish Rye is a limited release that has become one of Michter’s most anticipated. The 2026 edition begins with fully matured US*1 Kentucky Straight Rye at barrel strength, aged at least four years (likely closer to six) in new charred American white oak, then “aged for an additional period in a second custom barrel made from 24-month air-dried wood and toasted to exacting specifications.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe difference between toasting and charring is the point. A toasted barrel is heated more gently, and the wood sugars caramelize without burning, giving a sweeter, softer, bread-like and spice-forward influence rather than the smoky char of the first barrel. The 2026 release was led by Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson, who selected both the toast level of the second barrel and the whiskey chosen for finishing. The rye enters the barrel at 103 proof, and each barrel is bottled at its own strength, so the proof varies; the 2026 average is 109.1 proof (54.55% ABV).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe official tasting notes describe “a rich, decadent expression of rye”: “layers of toffee, honey, and black walnut lead into dark chocolate, salted caramel, cherry, and mint, with pronounced rye spice balanced by rounded oak and toastiness on the finish.” Andrea Wilson adds: “It brings a level of rich comfort with its dark and savory notes, but transitions to the inviting characters of a baked cinnamon roll with melted caramel icing. It lingers with warm, rich gingerbread notes and a beautiful toastiness reminding us that memories are often made with a campfire, good friends, and a great pour.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eEarly reviews are positive. Whiskey Reviewer’s Richard Thomas scored it a B+, calling it “one of my favorite digestif whiskeys,” with sips that “led with the oak, tannic pinch and rye spice aspects, with the sweeter side only coming up on the back end, but that was the part that persisted into the finish.” Bevinfo found “toasty, wood vanillins, dark sweet fruits, crème brûlée, caramel, sweetbread and rye mint” on the nose, a palate of “burnt caramel, medium char and gingerbread, balanced by a nice minty rye spice,” and concluded: “Some whiskeys in this style overdo the toastiness, burying the base spirit, but not Michter’s, which dials in the finishing just right so that you can still enjoy the minty rye spice.” Whiskey Consensus called it “a complex, flavorful whiskey that I truly enjoyed.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eIt’s a dessert-leaning, high-proof rye for people who like toasted-barrel whiskeys, or for friends who say they don’t like rye: sweet, rich, and bready, with the rye spice still in focus. It’s an easy fall and holiday gift, and a limited release that tends to sell out. Pour it neat, or with a few drops of water to open the oak and toast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"4\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigins \u0026amp; Craftsmanship\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMichter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Rye 2026 is produced by Michter’s Distillery in Kentucky, under Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson. It is a Kentucky straight rye whiskey, barreled at 103 proof in new charred American white oak (at least four years), then finished in a second barrel made from 24-month air-dried wood, toasted but not charred. Barrel strength: each barrel is bottled at its own proof, averaging 109.1 proof (54.55% ABV) for the 2026 release. Distilled and bottled in Kentucky, 750ml. Limited release.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"4\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCritics Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRichard Thomas, Whiskey Reviewer — B+ (October 2026; 108.8 proof):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Michter’s did not originate the double new oak treatment... but they were the first ones to elevate it by using a toasted, not charred barrel for the finishing... one of my favorite digestif whiskeys. The sips led with the oak, tannic pinch and rye spice aspects, with the sweeter side only coming up on the back end, but that was the part that persisted into the finish.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBevinfo (September 2026):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Nose: Toasty, wood vanillins, dark sweet fruits, crème brûlée, caramel, sweetbread and rye mint. Palate: More of those toasty and dark sweet flavors, burnt caramel, medium char and gingerbread, balanced by a nice minty rye spice. Finish: Medium-length finish with more toastiness, minty rye spice, burnt sugar and dark fruits.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhiskey Consensus:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The 2026 release of Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Rye is a complex, flavorful whiskey that I truly enjoyed.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMichter’s (official tasting notes):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A rich, decadent expression of rye. Layers of toffee, honey, and black walnut lead into dark chocolate, salted caramel, cherry, and mint, with pronounced rye spice balanced by rounded oak and toastiness on the finish.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"4\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Profile\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNose\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eToasty wood vanillins, toffee, honey, and black walnut, with crème brûlée, dark sweet fruit, and rye mint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePalate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDark chocolate, salted caramel, and cherry, with burnt caramel, gingerbread, and a minty rye spice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMedium to long, with toastiness, minty rye spice, burnt sugar, and dark fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"4\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003eCategory\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003eDetails\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKentucky Straight Rye Whiskey — Toasted Barrel Finish, Barrel Strength\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eABV \/ Proof\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAverage 54.55% ABV \/ 109.1 Proof (varies by barrel)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAt least 4 years (probably closer to 6)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaturation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNew charred American white oak (103 proof), then a second barrel of 24-month air-dried wood, toasted but not charred\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMichter’s Distillery — Kentucky\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaster Distiller \/ Maturation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDan McKee \/ Andrea Wilson\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEdition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2026 limited release (fall)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCritics\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWhiskey Reviewer B+\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle \/ Identity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA rich, sweet, toasty, high-proof rye with gingerbread and mint\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAromas \u0026amp; Flavors\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eToffee, honey, black walnut, dark chocolate, salted caramel, cherry, mint, gingerbread\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottle Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e750ml\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"4\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCocktail \u0026amp; Serving Suggestions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNeat or with a few drops of water\u003c\/strong\u003e — to open the oak and toast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOld Fashioned or Manhattan\u003c\/strong\u003e — a rich, sweet, spicy base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"4\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGingerbread and cinnamon rolls\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrème brûlée and caramel desserts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDark chocolate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmoked meats and aged cheddar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Breakthru","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45844808466498,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0363\/8621\/files\/231E58CD-8C96-4CA1-8B65-E7DC5260584C_1_201_a.jpg?v=1793283890","url":"https:\/\/www.blackwellswines.com\/products\/michters-us-1-toasted-barrel-finish-kentucky-straight-rye-whiskey-2026-release-750ml","provider":"Blackwell's Wines \u0026 Spirits","version":"1.0","type":"link"}