Michter's is an American whiskey label owned by Chatham Imports and produced and bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers. Michter's labels carry the "US -1" designation, staking their claim as the oldest distillery in the United States.
The original distillery that eventually became Michter's dates to a distillery set up by Swiss Mennonite farmers John and Michael Shenk in the mid-18th century outside of Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania. Their heirs sold the distillery to Abraham Bomberger just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, and it ran until the advent of Prohibition in 1919. After Repeal, Pennco distillers ran the company until 1978, when it was sold to Michter's, which went bankrupt in 1989.
Like most American whiskey labels, Michter's does not have an actual distillery behind it. Interestingly enough, the last whiskey distilled at Schaefferstown wound up being labelled A.H. Hirsch 16 Year Old Reserve Straight Bourbon.
Michter's makes a range spirits, including 10 and 25 year old Bourbons, 10 and 25 year old Rye whiskeys, and an American whiskey. They are all slightly overproof, coming in at around 85 proof.
Some popular cocktails containing Michter's
- Mint Tea Julep — Rye, Zucca, Mint, Demerara syrup
- Black Lodge — Rye, Cynar, Cherry Liqueur, Sweet vermouth, Orange bitters, Orange peel
- Dissertation — Amaro, Sweet vermouth, Rye, Cognac, Bitters
- Age of Reason — Rye, Cognac, Aromatized wine, Bitters, Herbal liqueur, Lemon peel
- Another Fine Mes — Rye, Tequila, Triple sec, Sweet vermouth, Bitters, Orange bitters, Maple syrup, Orange peel
- The Bedminster — Rye, Bénédictine, Amaro Nonino, Bitters, Peychaud's Bitters, Lemon peel
- Woody Sour — Bourbon, Rye, Allspice Dram, Bitters, Lemon juice, Demerara syrup
- Coal Train — Rye, Rhum Agricole, Crème de Banane, Amargo-Vallet, Lemon peel