Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey (2024) Quick Review

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My reviews tend to be long-winded and detailed. I know that many readers don’t have the time or patience to read them all. This is why I have decided to create a “Quick Review” format. I’m not going to cover backstories, distilling methods or anything like that if I know I’ve covered it in a previous review of a similar bottle. You’ll find that a lot of these quick reviews will be based on single barrel picks because their backstory is usually the same with the exception of the group that picked them.

Introduction

Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash whiskey is an annual limited time offering (LTO) from Michter’s. The name is derived from the original name of the distillery when it was located in Pennsylvania. Back then, Shenk’s would have been known for distilling rye whiskey. Michter’s decided to revive the name but instead of bottling a rye whiskey, the contents are labeled as a “Sour Mash Whiskey.”

While that wording might be ambiguous, let me remove some of the confusion that surrounds the brand. Anytime you see Michter’s using the words “Sour Mash Whiskey,” it’s their code for blending bourbon and rye whiskey together (a “bourye” if you will). This applies to Michter’s Sour Mash Whiskey, Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey and Michter’s Celebration. Not convinced? Michter’s has went on the record before that their Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey is comprised of a six barrel blend of rye whiskey and bourbon. I have also toured their warehouse and not seen a single barrel identified with a separate mash bill that indicates it’s a sour mash whiskey.

Only one change in this year’s Shenk’s

From what I can tell, there has only been one change from last year’s Shenk’s release – the introduction of caramel malt (malted barley) into the mash bill. The possibility exists that Michter’s has used caramel malt in their rye whiskey/bourbon recipes before and this is the first we’re hearing about it.

Otherwise, the makeup mostly stays the same. We see that some of the rye whiskey component continues to be matured in toasted and charred French Oak barrels. As for the bourbon, there are at least two types used in the blend – one version with a new recipe that substitutes traditional rye grain for malted rye and another version that is probably their standard bourbon recipe.

One thing I am sure of, and I think it needs to be said before I move on, is that every drop of 2024 Shenk’s was distilled and matured by Michter’s. I know many people are often confused or want to fight about its origins due to Michter’s previously having their whiskey contract-distilled at Brown-Forman, but no whiskey has been sourced from them since 2011. Michter’s began distilling their own in the last quarter of 2015 and hasn’t looked back since.

Shenk’s is a full-bodied whiskey with the spice and character of a rye whiskey and the sweetness of a bourbon. That’s its appeal to consumers. The low proof makes sure neither component can strong-arm the other and it should taste very balanced. So what did I think about this year’s release? Let’s find out. Thanks to my good friend Brad, I’m getting a chance to taste this. As always, I’m sampling it neat in a glencairn.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Crème brûlée scents start the nose off on a sweet note. I’m also picking up on graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows (S’mores!). The oak is well-integrated and gives each sip the feeling of a much more mature product than it actually is. Spice is light, but fragrant enough and mainly revolves around ground cinnamon. Fruit notes (likely from the rye whiskey component) center around cherries, candied oranges and a hint of what I can only describe as “blue raspberry.” The kids will know what I’m talking about with that one.

Palate: The opening flavors are a pleasant mix of vanilla, toasted caramel and tobacco leaf. Tannins like dark chocolate shavings and seasoned & sweet oak are surprisingly deep for this proof, but probably stem from the heavy French Oak influence (typically the strongest oak influence you can get). I find plenty of rye spice (and mint) that combine with cinnamon, ground peppercorns and allspice. Fruit notes are darker and more concentrated with notes of black cherries and figs.

Finish: After the sip is complete, it becomes slightly drier with notes of cocoa powder, slightly burnt caramel and dry oak. The rye influence still shows itself through mint, candied oranges and a slight herbal/pine note. Overall, the finish is just sweet enough to not let the bitter notes get to it. It lasts much longer than almost any other ~90 proof whiskey I’ve tasted.

Score: 7.9/10

Shenk’s impresses me year after year with the depth of flavors that it embodies for a whiskey that’s only 91.2 proof. I find that to be the same experience with this 2024 release. The main thing I’m happy about is how the malted rye component in the bourbon was kept at bay. This is an improvement over last year’s (which is why I gave it a higher rating). I know it sounds odd, but malted rye consistently ruins other whiskies I’ve tried with the dominating flavor of Girl Scouts Thin Mint Cookies. My main issue when I find that note is that it covers up every other flavor.

I have a few friends that like to compare every Shenk’s release with its sibling “Bomberger’s.” This is strange to me because they are two very different styles of whiskey. Shenk’s is kind of in a category by itself and frankly, I can’t think of another whiskey (or bourye) that approaches its richness and approachability. Bomberger’s is more of your typical bourbon profile and should be compared to other bourbon’s in its category.

Regardless of how you want to classify Shenk’s, it’s hard to disagree that this is the perfect bottle to share with novices and experienced drinkers alike. If you see this on the shelf for $130 or less, it’s an automatic buy.