Michters US1 Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey

This is a straight rye built for people who like their spice with a cushion of sweetness. Michter's distills it in Kentucky from a rye-dominant mash bill of select American rye, ages it in fire-charred, new American white oak, and bottles each one from a single barrel at a gentle 84.8 proof. On the nose, cracked black pepper and warm spice lead, softened by citrus zest and creamy butterscotch. The palate follows suit, moving from peppery bite to rich butterscotch, bright citrus and earthy oak before a medium-long finish that balances sweet and spice. That moderate proof makes it an easy entry point for drinkers newer to rye, while the single-barrel format gives collectors a bottling with real individuality. It works as well neat with a few drops of water as it does stirred into an Old Fashioned or Manhattan. We carry it because it shows rye's natural warmth without shouting, a limited-quantity bottling that rewards slow sipping and earns its place on any back bar.