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Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon vs Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$85 – $100 vs. ~$90 – $130).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +9 proof | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $100 ~$18 less | ~$90 – $130 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/5 fruit: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
nuttiness 5/4 nuttiness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon: Finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and Cognac casks. The casks layer dried fruit, orange and dark chocolate over the bourbon and leave a long, clove-spiced finish.
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish: The standard Michter's bourbon given a second toasted barrel, which adds sweetness and wood to an already polished pour. Genuinely good, though the price has drifted well past what the liquid alone justifies.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate at a lower price point.
- Go with Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish if you want the smoothest, most polished toasted-barrel pour here and price is not the deciding factor.
Best enjoyed neat (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon); neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish).