Michter’s has hit something of a stride over the past few years. The core US1 range—and supposedly the recent Legacy Series bottles—have transitioned from sourced to in-house distillation, although the labels have yet to reflect that. Both the 10-Year bourbon and rye earn consistently high marks while the barrel strength rye and toasted whiskeys drop more consistently than before. In short: it’s a good time to be both Michter’s and a Michter’s fan.

Perhaps the most intriguing whiskeys in the Michter’s portfolio can be found in the aforementioned Legacy Series. Consisting of annual releases under the Shenk’s Homestead and Bomberger’s Declaration brands, the Legacy Series is where the Michter’s team takes a more experimental approach to their whiskey. This generally manifests with the use of certain types of wood (chinquapin and French oak) that’s often seasoned longer than the industry standard, although 2023 and 2024 saw this extend to highlighting the use of malted grains.

2025 sees Michter’s treading familiar territory; with Shenk’s Homestead, named after Swiss Mennonite farmer John Shenk, still utilizing “a good amount of rye.” Some of the fully matured whiskey was finished in toasted (not charred) French oak barrels sourced from the Vosges region, which is known for its medium-fine grain. These casks were naturally air dried and seasoned for more than two years prior to finishing. As with other Shenk’s Homestead releases, the 2025 version is proofed to 45.6% ABV before bottling and carries a suggested retail price of about $110.

Nose: Tobacco, Banana Bread, Toasted Sourdough, French Vanilla

Mildly Funky, Earthy, Woody

Palate: Batter Bread, Dried Banana, Vanilla Custard, Nutmeg

Medium, Syrupy, Full-Flavored

Finish: Vanilla Bean, Hazelnut Spread, Tobacco, Clove

Moderate, Warming, Balanced

A common grievance I hear long-time whiskey enthusiasts utter is that newer releases just don’t hit like older ones. That may be true, but it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’ve had several chances to try whiskeys dating back one to six decades ago, and although they can be frustratingly sublime, several also fall flat. Yes, even some of the highly regarded ones. Take Shenk’s, for example; I enjoyed the 2019 well enough at the time and found the 2017 sample I tried to be uninspiring. Although I didn’t get to review them, I did try the 2022 and 2024 releases, either of which I’d take over the aforementioned predecessors.

As for the 2025 Shenk’s? It continues the brand’s recent trend by offering a complete, fulfilling drinking experience despite its low proof. That last part may be a pain point for some enthusiasts, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned about spirits, it’s that you can’t base everything off of numbers. I’d even challenge anyone to find a whiskey outside of the Michter’s portfolio with a similar proof point that matches the experience offered by this release of Shenk’s Homestead. You might be able to come up with a handful, but I doubt it’ll be a laundry list.