Well it looks like Christmas has officially come early! Today Michter’s has announced the 2019 release of their prized Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey for the first time in three years.
This release is extra special for Michter’s and its Master Distiller Dan McKee since this will be the first celebration release under his tenure. Assisted by Michter’s Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson, they often work together when creating Michter’s special expressions.
What took so long? It’s hard to say, but with Michter’s constant commitment to quality, the team doesn’t believe in annual releases. If the Whiskey is not ready, it simply isn’t bottled. As with earlier releases, this year’s Celebration will be bottled at barrel proof, 115.6 or 57.8% ABV. 277 Bottles will be released for the entire world and will carry a suggested retail price of $5,000 USD.
“Working on my first Celebration release was a labor of love for me. Ultimately, I chose to take whiskey from two Kentucky straight bourbon barrels and four Kentucky straight rye barrels in our stocks. Each Celebration release is special and unique, and this year’s release differs from the 2016 one, where the whiskey came from three bourbon barrels and three rye barrels.”
– Master Distiller Dan McKee
If you have had the opportunity to sample this ultra premium whiskey tell us about your experience in the comments below. Happy hunting & cheers!
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:Michter’s to Release Its Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey for the First Time in Three Years
After a three-year hiatus, Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey will be released again in December 2019. This year’s release of Michter’s Celebration is a blend of whiskey taken from six carefully selected barrels. “Working on my first Celebration release was a labor of love for me. Ultimately, I chose to take whiskey from two Kentucky straight bourbon barrels and four Kentucky straight rye barrels in our stocks. Each Celebration release is special and unique, and this year’s release differs from the 2016 one, where the whiskey came from three bourbon barrels and three rye barrels,” said Michter’s Master Distiller Dan McKee.
Tremendous attention is given to finding the perfect barrels for Michter’s Celebration. Michter’s Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson observed, “It’s not just a question of finding this great barrel and putting it with that great barrel. It’s a matter of selecting fantastic barrels that go together so well that the whole will be greater than the sum of the parts. The whiskeys in the 2019 release range in age from over a decade to over 30 years old.”
When Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey was released in 2013, it marked a significant moment in United States whiskey history. For the first time, an American whiskey company was offering a rare blend for a suggested retail price of several thousand dollars. “At Michter’s we had the thought that great whiskey made in the U.S. was a worthy rival for the very finest spirits from other parts of the world, so we came out with the first release of Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey,” remarked Michter’s President Joseph J. Magliocco.
Only 277 bottles of the 2019 Edition of Michter’s Celebration will be released worldwide. It is 115.6 proof / 57.8% alcohol by volume and will have a suggested retail price of $5,000 in the United States.
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