Small batch. Proper Kentucky heritage. And a distillery that takes the phrase quality over quantity rather seriously.
Michter's US★1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a premium small batch American whiskey produced in Kentucky, showcasing the distillery's meticulous approach to grain selection, barrel preparation and maturation.
Made using a carefully selected corn forward mash bill, the whiskey is matured in new, fire charred American white oak barrels. Michter's takes particular care with its cooperage, seasoning its barrel wood before toasting and charring to encourage the development of rich, complex flavours during maturation.
Another distinguishing feature is Michter's unusually low barrel entry strength of 103 Proof (51.5% ABV), considerably lower than the maximum permitted 125 Proof commonly used in bourbon production. This deliberate approach is designed to encourage greater extraction of the wood's caramelised sugars, contributing to a richer mouthfeel and more rounded flavour profile.
And when Michter's says small batch, they actually mean small. Each batch of US★1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon is assembled in a holding tank with a maximum capacity of just 20 full barrels, leaving very little room to disguise an underperforming cask.
The resulting whiskey is beautifully balanced, bringing together rich caramel, vanilla, ripe stone fruit and subtle smoky oak.
Bottled at 45.7% ABV (91.4 Proof), it offers a refined yet characterful expression of traditional Kentucky bourbon, equally suited to slow sipping or a particularly well made Old Fashioned.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Deep golden amber with warm copper highlights.
Nose: Rich caramel and vanilla lead into toasted American oak, sweet corn and gentle baking spice. Subtle notes of ripe peach, apricot and cherry develop alongside a delicate smokiness.
Palate: Rounded and full-flavoured, with buttery caramel, vanilla fudge and brown sugar balanced by ripe stone fruit. Toasted oak, cinnamon and a touch of dark chocolate introduce further depth, while the underlying corn sweetness provides a smooth, approachable foundation.
Finish: Lingering caramel, warming oak and gentle spice, with a pleasantly dry, smoky conclusion and a final touch of vanilla sweetness.
Technical Details
Brand: Michter's
Origin: Kentucky, USA
Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Range: US★1
Production: Small Batch – Maximum 20 Barrels per Batch
Mash Bill: Corn-Forward (Exact Recipe Undisclosed)
Maturation: New Fire-Charred American White Oak Barrels
Bottling Strength: 91.4 Proof (45.7% ABV)
Age Statement: Non-Age Statement
Bottle Size: 750ml
Why It's Worth a Look
Michter's has built its modern reputation around a simple philosophy: don't release the whiskey until it's ready, regardless of what the production schedule might suggest.
The US★1 Straight Bourbon is an excellent introduction to that approach.
From the carefully prepared oak barrels and lower entry proof to the genuinely small batch sizes, considerable attention goes into producing a bourbon that prioritises flavour and balance over sheer volume.
The result delivers everything you'd want from a quality Kentucky straight bourbon: rich caramel, creamy vanilla, ripe fruit and enough toasted oak to keep things interesting without dominating the glass.
An excellent everyday sipping bourbon for someone with rather expensive everyday tastes.
Best enjoyed neat, over a large cube of ice, or in an Old Fashioned. Although once you've tasted it neat, you might decide the cocktail ingredients can wait.
Delivery within South Africa:
All orders are delivered from our central warehouse located in Montague Gardens, Western Cape. Local orders are usually delivered in 0-2 working days. Orders outside of Cape Town but within SA are generally delivered within 2-5 working days. If you require expedited delivery, we now offer an Express delivery service, which typically takes 1-3 working days, depending on your area.
While we strive for timely deliveries, there are occasional instances where delays may occur. These are rare but can happen due to unforeseen circumstances.
Delivery Rates:
At checkout, you will be presented with delivery options and corresponding rates. These rates are provided directly by our courier partners and are displayed as is. On rare occasions, a courier may generate an incorrect delivery rate due to issues with the address recognition. In such cases, we will arrange for an alternative courier to deliver your order at a similar rate to the original cost.
We believe in offering transparency in our delivery fees and, as such, do not include any delivery costs in our product pricing. We do not profit from delivery fees.
Third-Party Couriers:
For the majority of our orders, we rely on third-party courier services for delivery. Regular notifications will be sent and on the day of delivery the couriers will notify you via sms, call or email . If the courier is unable to reach you, we will get in touch with you to arrange an alternative solution.
Please note, you will be required to sign upon delivery, and the drivers may request a form of identification.
If there is something wrong with your product, we will gladly issue a full refund of 100% of your purchase amount. To process this, please reach out to us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za as soon as possible, and we will guide you through the refund process.
Order Cancellations:
If you need to cancel your order, simply email us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za, and we’ll assist you with the cancellation process. Please note, cancellations will incur a small fee of 10%, which covers the transaction fees we incur for processing each order. If your order has already been shipped, please be aware that the shipping fee is non-refundable.
Consignment Orders:
We do not offer consignment stock or consignment deals.
Returns:
If you find that there is an issue with your product, you are eligible to return it to us. Here’s how you can initiate the return:
- Email us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za to notify us of your intent to return the product. We will then guide you through the process.
- Our returns policy is valid for 7 working days from the date of delivery. Unfortunately, if 7 working days have passed since the delivery of your purchase, we cannot offer a refund or exchange.
- To be eligible for a return, the item must be unused and in the same condition as when you received it. It must also be in its original packaging. A 10% Fee will be charged on returns, unless the product was damaged or incorrectly supplied by Mothercity Liquor.
Return Shipping & Delivery Fees
Please note that original shipping or delivery fees are non-refundable. Where a refund is approved, the refund will apply to the eligible returned product(s) only and will exclude any shipping or delivery charges paid on the original order.
Unless the return is due to an incorrect, damaged, or defective product supplied by Mothercity Liquor, the cost of returning the product(s) to us is the responsibility of the customer. Customers are responsible for arranging and paying for return shipping and for ensuring that the products are securely packaged to prevent damage in transit.
We strongly recommend using a trackable and insured courier service when returning products. Mothercity Liquor cannot be held responsible for returned goods that are lost or damaged while in transit to us.
Where Mothercity Liquor supplied an incorrect, damaged, or defective product, we will arrange or cover the reasonable cost of returning the affected product, subject to the terms of our Returns Policy.
Exceptions to Returns:
Sale or Special Offer Items: Only regular-priced items are eligible for a refund. Unfortunately, items purchased on sale or as part of a special offer cannot be refunded.
Subscription Terms & Conditions:
- By purchasing a Subscription, you agree to recurring automatic payments based on your selected delivery frequency (monthly, every 2 months or every 3 months etc).
- Your subscription will automatically renew and your payment method will be charged on the same calendar day as your original purchase until your subscription is cancelled.
- Minimum Commitment: Subscription pricing includes a discounted rate and therefore requires a minimum commitment of two (2) deliveries. Cancellation requests will only be accepted after your second subscription box has been successfully delivered.
- Cancellation requests must be submitted before your next billing date. If your payment has already been processed, that month's subscription will still be fulfilled and dispatched.
- Subscription payments are non-refundable once they have been successfully processed, except where required by applicable South African consumer protection laws.
- In the event that a product becomes unavailable, Mothercity Liquor reserves the right to substitute it with a product of equal or greater value.
- Customers must be 18 years or older to purchase or receive alcoholic products.
