Michter’s has a rich heritage that traces its roots to 1753, when it was originally established in Pennsylvania by John Shenk. It is believed to be the oldest known whiskey distillery in the United States, with a history spanning over 250 years.
After facing challenges and multiple changes in ownership, Michter’s Distillery was revitalized in the 1990s. Under new ownership, the distillery was relocated to its current home in Louisville, Kentucky.
Michter’s labels many of their whiskeys “US-1,” which represents Michter’s history as America’s first-established whiskey company.
Whiskey
Entry Proof
Michter’s whiskeys are entered into the barrel for aging at a lower proof than the standard industry practice. The entry proof refers to the alcohol content of the distillate when it is placed in the barrel. While most other distilleries use the maximum-allowed 125 proof for most of their products, Michter’s rye and bourbon recipes go into the barrel at a much-lower 103 proof.
This lower proof allows for the sugars in the toasted and charred wood to dissolve more readily into the whiskey. This leads to fewer bottles yielded per barrel, but Michter’s believes that the flavors and mouthfeel are greatly improved using this process.
