🥃 Michter's
American whiskey brand from Kentucky: bourbon, rye and sour mash. It took its name from a Pennsylvania distillery that closed before 1990; the brand was revived in 1997.
Michter's is an American whiskey brand from Kentucky, making bourbon, rye and sour mash whiskey. It inherited its name from a Pennsylvania company that closed before 1990, and the current brand was revived in 1997 by Joseph Magliocco. Its own distilleries operate in Shively and downtown Louisville, and the base bourbon, US★1, is 45.7% ABV.
History. According to Whisky Advocate, Michter's roots go back to 1753 in Pennsylvania; that company went bankrupt and stopped operating by 1990. In 1997 Magliocco bought only the trademark, without whiskey, recipes or packaging, for 245 dollars. At first the brand sold purchased whiskey, from 2003 contract-made distillate, and in 2012 it bought the Shively building. From 2015 the brand fully switched to its own spirit, and in 2019 it opened a distillery in the Fort Nelson building on Whiskey Row in Louisville.
How it is made. The spirit goes into barrels at 103 proof, below the legal US maximum of 125. According to the producer, US★1 Bourbon is blended in batches of no more than twenty barrels and aged in new charred American white oak barrels.
Range. US★1 Bourbon, Rye, Sour Mash and American Whiskey, plus limited releases with longer aging.
Why this matters to you. The long Pennsylvania history is a history of the name, not of continuous production: today's Michter's whiskey is made in Kentucky. “American Whiskey” in the range is not a bourbon, because according to the producer it matures in barrels that have already held whiskey. WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | revived brand — 1997 (Joseph Magliocco); roots in Pennsylvania, 1753 according to the brand |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | 27 CFR § 5.143 (USA): bourbon — at least 51% corn, new charred oak containers; straight — at least 2 years |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey, for the EU market |
| Raw material | corn (bourbon), rye (rye), malted barley; water |
| Distillation method | own distilleries in Shively (own spirit only since 2015) and Fort Nelson in Louisville (2019) |
| Cask type | new charred American white oak barrels; filled at 103 proof |
| Minimum maturation | straight bourbon — at least 2 years; US★1 has no age statement |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 45.7% ABV (US★1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon) |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Michter's → affects → 🍷 Alcohol and health ← affects ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🐝 American white oak, 🍷 Barrel toasting
- Made from
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Bourbon whiskey, 🥃 Straight bourbon whiskey, 🥃 Straight rye whiskey
- Related to
- 🌍 North America
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Woodford Reserve, 🥃 Buffalo Trace
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Michter's is the oldest whiskey company in the US?
The brand traces its Pennsylvania roots to 1753, but that company closed before 1990. Today's Michter's is a trademark revived in 1997, with distilleries in Kentucky.
Where is Michter's made?
In Kentucky: at the distillery in Shively and at Fort Nelson in downtown Louisville.
What is the strength of Michter's US★1 Bourbon?
45.7% ABV (91.4 proof).
Why is Michter's American Whiskey not a bourbon?
By US law bourbon must mature only in new charred barrels, while this whiskey matures in barrels that have already been used.
Who revived Michter's?
Joseph Magliocco, who in 1997 bought only the trademark for 245 dollars.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🌍 North America — US and Canada: 9.5 million US cows gave 232 billion lb of milk (2025); Wisconsin makes a quarter of US cheese; Canada runs on dairy quotas.
- 🍷 Barrel toasting — Heating the inside of a barrel over fire; the degree of toast shapes the wine's taste.
- 🥃 Woodford Reserve — A Kentucky bourbon from a historic distillery in Versailles, Kentucky; the site has operated since 1812; the main version is 45.2% ABV; owned by Brown-Forman.
Similar
🥃 Old Forester · 🥃 Elijah Craig · 🥃 Jim Beam · 🥃 Blanton's · 🥃 Baker's · 🥃 Old Crow
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Whisky Advocate: The Story of the Great Michter's Revival (roots 1753; Pennsylvania company closed by 1990; trademark bought 1997 for 245 US dollars; Shively 2012-2015; Fort Nelson 2019; 103 proof barrel entry)
- Michter's: US★1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon (small batch up to 20 barrels, fire-charred new American white oak, 45.7 % ABV, distilled and bottled in Kentucky)
- Michter's: US★1 American Whiskey (whiskey-soaked American white oak barrels, 41.7 % ABV)
- 27 CFR § 5.143 Standards of identity for whisky (bourbon: mash min. 51 % corn, new charred oak containers; straight: min. 2 years), text via Cornell LII
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)