Unlike with Scotch, which is typically made from malted barley, you won’t find many ultra-aged bourbons on the market. The corn-based spirit reaches its peak much quicker, and often becomes undrinkable after 20 or 30 years in the barrel. However, when it does work, you will get some of the finest whiskeys in the world.
There are some distilleries who have routinely figured out how to increase the age statements of their bourbons while still offering superb taste. One such company is Michter’s, the Kentucky-based distillery who has released a handful of 20-year-old bourbons since the early-’00s (and has even made a highly-rare 25-year in the past too). Now, after a three-year hiatus, the 20-Year is back and early reports say it might be the best one yet.
A Heritage Worth Remembering
Michter’s pedigree stretches back to 1753, when Swiss Mennonite farmers first established what’s believed to be America’s first commercial distillery in Pennsylvania. The brand name itself didn’t arrive until the 1950s, when owner Louis Forman combined his sons’ names — Michael and Peter — to create “Michter’s.” After facing bankruptcy in 1990, Joseph J. Magliocco acquired the brand in 1995 and relocated operations to Kentucky, where the distillery has since become one of the most acclaimed names in American whiskey.
The 20-Year expression represents the pinnacle of that legacy. First released in 2012, this bourbon has appeared sporadically over the years because Michter’s refuses to bottle anything that doesn’t meet their exacting standards. When barrels destined for the 2023 release didn’t pass muster, they simply skipped that year entirely.
The Challenge of Extended Aging
Federal law requires bourbon to mature in brand-new charred oak barrels, which accelerates flavor extraction compared to the used casks employed in Scotch production. If it spends too much time in the barrel, you’ll wind up with an over-oaked mess that tastes more like furniture polish. Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson have spent decades perfecting the art of managing these barrels through Michter’s rickhouses, carefully monitoring warehouse conditions to coax out complexity.
Bottled at 114.2 proof (57.1% ABV), the 2025 release delivers layers of vanilla, toffee, and chocolate intertwined with spice, fruit, and confectionery notes. The oak doesn’t dominate here. Instead, it deepens and enhances the underlying character, creating an expansive palate. Wilson describes it as “an exemplary representation of how oak can be used” to craft intentional complexity.
Spec Sheet
Name: Michter’s 20 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Age Statement: 20 Years
ABV: 57.1%
Aroma: Vanilla, toffee, chocolate, oak
Palate: Deep vanilla and toffee notes layered with chocolate, spice, fruit, and confectionery complexity
Production: Aged in new, fire-charred American white oak barrels with meticulous barrel management
Limited Edition: Fewer than 700 bottles
Price: $1,200
Release Date: December 1, 2025
Pricing & Availability
Michter’s 20-Year Bourbon will begin shipping to select bars, restaurants, and retailers across the United States starting December 1. The suggested retail price sits at $1,200 per 750ml bottle, though, with production limited to fewer than 700 bottles, expect secondary market prices to climb considerably higher — previous releases have traded for several thousand dollars.
Recap
Michter’s 20-Year Bourbon 2025
Michter’s is bringing back its ultra-rare 20-Year Bourbon for 2025 after a three-year break, and the whiskey world is buzzing that this might be their best release yet. At $1,200 a bottle with fewer than 700 available, it’s a masterclass in extended aging that proves bourbon can age gracefully beyond two decades when you know what you’re doing.
