Once the oldest operating distillery in the United States, located in rural Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania, Michter’s, the known as Shenk’s Distillery, was established in 1753 by brothers John and Michael Shenk. The distillery was well-known for its rye whiskey and played a vital role during the Revolutionary War, supplying whiskey to American soldiers and possibly even George Washington himself. Renamed Bomberger’s Distillery under new ownership in 1861, it continued to thrive until Prohibition dealt a severe blow to the industry in 1919, and the distillery was forced to close to the public. Following prohibition, the distillery went through several owners, and additional name changes, but was eventually rebranded as Micthter’s by Lou Forman, after his two children, Michael and Peter, in the 1970s. The distillery in Pennsylvania filed for bankruptcy in 1983 and closed for good in 1989, the result of a systemic downturn in global whiskey sales.
The Michter’s brand was resurrected in the 1990s by Joseph Magliocco and Richard Newman, who had previously served as the CEO of Austin Nichols (Wild Turkey). After successfully filing for the abandoned Michter’s trademark, the entrepreneurs embarked on establishing the whiskey as a quintessentially Kentucky branch. Michter’s now operates the main distillery in the Shively section of Louisville, and the historically significant Fort Nelson Building in downtown Louisville.
Whiskies
Core Lineup: Michter’s US*1 Collection: Sour Mash; American Whiskey; Straight Bourbon; Kentucky Straight Rye.
Limited Releases: Michter’s 20 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon; Michter’s 10 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon; Mcihter’s 10 Year Straight Rye; Michter’s 25 Year Straight Bourbon; Michter’s 25 Year Straight Rye;Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Rye;Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Rye; Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon; Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Sour Mash; Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Bourbon.
Tours and Experiences
Michter’s offers a Discovery Tour; Founders Tour; and a Legacy Tour. Please see the Richters website for time, pricing, and availability.
