2025 Michter's Toasted Barrel Finish Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey Review

“Every oak tree started out as a couple of nuts who stood their ground.”

 - Henry David Thoreau

Michter's is back once again with another of their famed toasted barrel expressions. The basic premise of this bottle is that they take their sour mash American whiskey and further mature it in an additional finishing barrel. This second barrel isn't charred in the traditional way but toasted using indirect heat. Michter's has been exploring this category since 2014, when they first released this concept to the world. Ready to find out what it tastes like? Let's get on with the review!

Company on Label: Bottled by Michter's Distillery LLC, Louisville, Kentucky

Whiskey Type: Kentucky sour mash whiskey (American whiskey—not bourbon)

Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed

Proof: 86°

Age: NAS

MSRP: $110

Further identification: This is batch number 25H2753, meaning it was bottled in August of 2025

Nose: Molasses and heavy oak tannins leap out of the glass long before it reaches my nostrils, which makes me blink in visible disappointment. Youthful oak is exuberant and overly excited to greet me. Going back in for another whiff, I'm reminded of a charcoal barbecue grill, full of soot and metal. There's some strong maple tones here, but everything is laced with the sharp oak of a rather brash barrel. After a 30 minute rest, the sharp oak tones finally begin to fade, though the tannic nature remains. Light clay, vanilla, and citronella candle aromas creep in on subsequent inhales. After a few sips, the nose returns to the barbecue vibes, suddenly producing blue cool ranch Dorito aromas. The empty glass smells of plantain and sesame seeds.

Palate: As liquid hits lips, I'm quite a bit more enthused about the palate than the nose. A light dusting of Fun Dip sugar splatters over the taste buds before falling away quickly. Another quick sip reveals a consistent molasses that has translated from the nose well. It's a slightly bitter profile but it offers a decently creamy mouth coating. Each passing sip is somehow even less impressionable than the last, though there's certainly something to be said about how easy drinking it is. A long sip and swish reveals light apple tones, though I was straining to identify it in its thin veil of flavor. Late in the glass is where this gets some redeeming qualities with soft hints of marshmallow. My last sip is a rushed departure for the exit, an iconic Irish goodbye that makes the introvert in me proud, but the whiskey reviewer in me sad. The finish has one flicker of salted edamame before vanishing for good.

TL;DR: Youthful oak only made this into a thin, tannic mess, though it's still easy enough to sip

Rating: 2.5/5

Okay whiskey. Nothing special about this pour.

This has always been a polarizing release for me. The whole concept of toasted barrel is writ large a good one, with countless fans of the category that will sing its praises. I am just not one of those people who enjoys this type of profile at this stage in my whiskey journey, and it's okay to admit that. This could continue to be a great whiskey for novices to train their palates on, but to my taste buds, it seems like the kind of pour suited for a drift into relaxation, not a complex whiskey worthy of adoration or deep exploration. It feels rushed or poorly executed at best and surely feels out of place in a limited release category considering this only comes around once every three years. I much prefer the traditional sour mash at a significantly lower price, so maybe we should think about putting the toasted barrel trend on pause. Alas, not every whiskey is going to be wow worthy, and 2025 has unfortunately struggled to produce a lot of winners in either traditional or innovative categories. For me, I think I'll be skipping this release the next time it comes around and save more of my whiskey budget for craft releases going forward.

WRITTEN BY: NICK ANDERSON

With over a decade of sipping experience, Nick Anderson brings a well-calibrated palate to his profound passion for the whiskey industry. Beginning in Irish whiskey before expanding into bourbon, rye, and beyond, he has long been taking the ephemeral observation of unspoken enjoyment and translating it into meaningful words. He is the owner and primary long-winded whiskey writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com, and he hopes you find resonance in the patient conveyance of an honest whiskey review.