Michter's – US1 Original Sour Mash Whiskey (70cl, 43%)

This is Michter's US1 Original Sour Mash Whiskey, an American whiskey bottled at 43% in a 70cl bottle. Its choice of grains means it fits neither the rye nor the bourbon category. Sour mash refers to adding some of the mash from the previous fermentation to the next, much as sourdough is baked. It was the distillery's most popular product through the 1970s and 1980s, left the market in 1989 and returned in 2012 as part of the US1 line. In 2019 it was named Whisky of the Year, the first American whiskey to receive that honour. The palate opens with delicate cinnamon that turns nutty, and it closes lightly spiced with a touch of pepper.