Review: Michter’s Toasted Barrel Finish Rye 2026

Note: This review of Michter’s Toasted Barrel Finish Rye 2026 reflects the personal opinions of Editor Kyle Swartz. This bottle was sent to him as a media sample.

This barrel strength rye finishes in a second barrel made with wood that is naturally air-dried and seasoned outdoors for 24 months, and is toasted, not charred. Bottled at 108.8 proof. The suggested retail price is $120 per 750-ml. bottle.

Nose

Toasty (duh), wood vanillins, dark sweet fruits, crème brûlée, caramel, sweetbread and rye mint.

Palate

More of those toasty and dark sweet flavors, burnt caramel, medium char and gingerbread, balanced by a nice minty rye spice, especially on the backend.

Finish

Medium-length finish with more toastiness, minty rye spice, burnt sugar and dark fruits.

Upshot

Here we have another wonderfully made product from Michter’s. Toasted whiskeys are admittedly not my favorite, but boy is this one made correctly to style. Sweet, rich, bready, toasty aromas and flavors throughout. Some whiskeys in this style overdo the toastiness, burying the base spirit, but not Michter’s, which dials in the finishing just right so that you can still enjoy the minty rye spice. With all that savory sweetness, you can pour this for your friend who says they don’t like rye to change their mind. I drank this the other day with my rye-loving neighbor Daryll Porto, and we put back a bunch of drams in no time, while out daughters rode bikes in circles in our cul-de-saq. If you like toasted whiskeys, or want the world’s sweetest and easiest-drinking rye, the 2026 release is a no-brainer buy around SRP.

Kyle Swartz is editor of Beverage Dynamics. Reach him at kswartz@epgacceleration.com. Read his recent review, Four Roses 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch.

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