Michter's US*1 Bourbon Cocktail: The 1753
Michter's distilling legacy dates back to 1753, when they were founded as America's first whiskey company. To honor that legacy, I wanted to tell more of the Michter's story through a cocktail. Where better to start than at the very beginning?
If you've found yourself on this site, chances are you've likely heard of Michter's, "the world's most admired whiskey." That superlative comes from Drinks International, a spirits trade publication, which asks folks from across the industry to name their most revered brands. It takes into account everything from price to marketing to consistency and quality of product. And Michter's has secured that top spot four years in a row, and for good reason.
In the bourbon space, it's easy for a brand to get "too big for its britches." Once obscure brands become successful, they act like they are God's gift to drinkers, grow more aloof from their fan base, and, in general, forget who got them there. Not Michter's. I've never felt so consistently well-treated by a brand. Whether I am at the Fort Nelson distillery in downtown Louisville, their upstairs cocktail bar, a tasting table at a festival, or even just running into the folks who work there out and about. Michter's earns my respect again and again. And that is why they've stuck around for so long.
The Michter's we know today has been around since 2004, but what you may not know is that legacy stretches even further back; further back, even, than our very country. Before Daniel Boone set out to explore the Cumberland Gap, before the town of Harrodsburg was established as the oldest settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains, and before the city of Louisville was even established, Michter's was making whiskey.
Michter's distilling legacy dates back to 1753, when they were founded as America's first whiskey company. To honor that legacy, I wanted to tell more of the Michter's story through a cocktail. Where better to start than at the very beginning?
"THE 1753" MICHTER'S US-1 COCKTAIL
THE 1753 INGREDIENTS
- 2 oz Michter's US*1 bourbon
- 1/2 oz Laird's Applejack
- 1/4 oz spiced rum
- 1 heavy barspoon of maple syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Dried apple ring for garnish
THE 1753 PREPARATION
Carefully torch one end of a cinnamon stick until you produce orange flames. Place on a fireproof surface; cover the smoking cinnamon stick with a rocks glass.
Pour liquid ingredients into a mixing glass, then add a pinch of salt. Fill with ice. Stir for 30 seconds. Place a large ice cube in the smoked glass, then strain the cocktail over ice.
Garnish with a dried apple slice and cinnamon stick.