2025 Michter's 20 Year Bourbon Review: An In-Depth Look at an Ultra-Aged Icon

“Time is the wisest counselor of all.”

– Pericles

Last year, I found myself holding one of my true whiskeys—the 2024 release of Michter's 20 Year. At the time when I was gearing up to open it, I asked myself a simple question: Does ultra-rare whiskey taste ultra-delicious? The answer was a resounding yes. It was a pour that bucked the foolish assumption that hyper-aged Kentucky bourbon is only capable of being a tannic mess. That bottle earned a perfect 5/5 rating, incredibly rare as only a truly pinnacle whiskey should earn, and it was the last whiskey to do so on my website. That's right... not a single whiskey since March has been able to crack into the upper echelons of my rating scale.

Now that I've scored a bottle of the 2025 release, it certainly begs the question... Can lightning possibly strike twice? To understand why I hunted this bottle down, you have to look beyond the secondary market price tags that often steer folks well clear of this bottle. When you have longstanding relationships in the whiskey ecosystem, certain doors open for you. Kindness, compassion, and generosity are all characteristics that serve well in the whiskey community. If you've got a reputation as someone who opens and shares bottles, sometimes bottles find you. While I am not fully past my "whiskey hunting" era, I am incredibly lucky to have many retailers in the Northeast who I count amongst my friends. I support them; they support me. When this bottle turned up at a cool $1,400, I surely wasn't going to say no. Given this release often fetches price tags north of $3,000, I looked at this as a rare and fortuitous opportunity to split a bottle with a dear friend, which is just what I have done. As soon as I had a few glamour bottle shot photographs taken, my buddy and I peeled the wax on this illustrious beauty.

My love for Michter's is deeply rooted, mainly in the incredible history of where this brand came from. While we are always grateful to Joseph Magliocco for resurrecting the defunct name and trademark, it was in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania that the legacy of the original Michter's Distillery was forged. This brand has an incredibly unique history that is nearly as long as that of the United States. From the original Shenk’s distillery founded in 1753 by Swiss Mennonite farmers in Schaefferstown, PA, to the era of Bomberger’s, and finally to the bankruptcy that nearly silenced the name forever in 1989, I am grateful that not all has been lost to history. The legacy of the late great Dick Stoll lives on through those who have tasted his whiskey, such as the incredible A.H. Hirsch 16 year—also known as "the greatest bourbon you'll never taste." Some of those old low-and-slow practices are still in action today at Michter's, such as their low barrel entry proof and heat-cycled warehouse aging.

Since the 2024 release has already established itself as an utterly perfect bourbon, 2025 has a mighty high bar to clear. Despite having their work cut out for them, I am quite certain that the dynamic duo of Dan McKee and Andrea Wilson are up to the task. Let's see how this year's expression tastes.

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

Whiskey Type: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey

Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed

Proof: 114.2°

Age: 20 years

MSRP: $1200

Buy online: Frootbat

Further identification: This is batch number 25H3054 of the Michter's 20 year bourbon, a sourced whiskey for the brand from an undisclosed Kentucky distillery

Nose: Immediately upon pouring, sweet red fruity aromas begin to fill the room. On first lifting the glass, it is very apparent that there are no other whiskeys like this on the market today. Rich macchiato tones fill the nostrils before layers of toasted walnut, leather, and graham cracker bolster this wonderfully complex aroma. Immediately upon setting my glencairn down, I want to raise it right back to my nose—this ambrosial concoction is oozing with character to discover. Deep inhales on the left nostril discover Carolina barbecue sauce, cracked vanilla bean, au jus, and fluffy baguette aromas. The right nostril pulls more subtle fruit, like freshly rinsed cherries, green grapes, and the skin of a pear. A small swirl of the glass booms forth vintage whiskey tones of rich, well-seasoned oak and a light earthiness that complements the wood well, reminding me of a woodshed full of good burning oak. At every whiff I never find any evidence of heat or proof imbalance, suggesting this is probably going to drink like silk. After confirming that fact with a sip, the nose blooms into more creamy tones, now coming across like mascarpone and flan. Maple syrup soaked pancakes show up after a long rest. I could nose this all day... and I just might! Late in the glass there are infinite layers of toffee and butterscotch to dig through—I'm in love. Heartbreak doesn't set in too soon, though, as the empty glass gives off incredible aromas of an old Kentucky rick house alongside pear, ricotta, and sweet raisin.

Palate: As liquid first hits lips, I find an incredible cherry sweetness that the nose only hinted at. Upon downing my first sip, two huge waves of chills rock through my body, making the hair on my arms stand on end. At first glance, there's not a fault to be found. It's got everything I am looking for: a defining character in that cherry note, a lovely viscous mouthfeel, and a linger that just sings. Another sip offers a wonderful tasting evolution: a silky start with maraschino cherry, ramping into monkey bread, and floating down on a cloud of thick homemade whipped cream. Every sip is careful, slow, and thorough, given just how balanced this whiskey is. It lands in the mouth without any semblance of disjointedness or heat—a perfectly refined bourbon for refined tastes. The long linger of cherry cobbler has my heart swooning. Supporting characters in this entourage are blackstrap molasses, tobacco, espresso, and cinnamon. Sipping near the bottom of the glass unveils a zippiness that was less present early on, impressing me with an interesting medley of expressed orange peel, thick butterscotch, resinous cedar, and cacao nibs. My last sip offers another glimpse into the evolution of truly old whiskey and how well-made distillate can continue to fight off detritus by just sitting in an oak vessel for two decades. The glass finishes long and strong with cherry bounce, fig, orange cream soda, allspice, rosemary, and nutmeg.

TL;DR: The holy trinity of flavor, balance, and quality... this is bourbon perfected.

Rating: 5/5

Pinnacle whiskey. A true rarity in quality.

What an experience! The 2025 Michter's 20 year bourbon commands attention from start to finish, delivering all the right notes you could ask for out of a whiskey of this age. With nothing else this year even coming close to being comparable, I am forced to use last year's 20 year expression as my benchmark of quality. Contrasting this year's bottling to the 2024 release, I find the 2025 has a bit more of a reserved nose in total volume but ultimately more balance and depth. The palates are very much in line with each other, and neither shows off anything even close to a distilling or maturation fault. Curious to hear more about these comparisons? Dive in on my full YouTube video covering just that topic. If you are in a position where a splurge bottle like this doesn't break the bank, I strongly urge you to hunt a bottle down, as this is truly a pinnacle whiskey achievement for the Michter's team.

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.