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Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish vs Woodford Reserve
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and Woodford Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$90 – $130 | ~$35 – $42 ~$72 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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 with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).