Although the continuous history of Michter's remains shrouded in mystery, its roots began in Pennsylvania in the mid-1700s and were revived in Kentucky in the 1990s, and the whiskies are consistently a staff favorite. The Small Batch bottling stands out for its plush, full-bodied texture, sending ripples of butterscotch, clove, allspice, Madagascar vanilla bean and hazelnut toffee through every sip.

Wine Enthusiast, 90-95 Points: The bouquet has a dry, grainy aroma which is accented by peppery/spicy scents. The palate entry is surprisingly sweet and corny, considering how dry the aroma is; the midpalate point is deep, corny sweet, sap-like and a bit syrupy. Ends up well and balanced, with a backnote of dried red fruit (raisins, prunes). *Superb/Highly Recommended* (12/2007)