Bomberger’s Declaration Kentucky Straight Bourbon (2023 Release) is a love letter to America’s bourbon origins. The name recalls one of the country’s earliest distilleries in Pennsylvania, the forerunner of Michter’s and each annual release carries that pioneering spirit forward. The 2024 bottling is rich and confident, a whiskey that feels handcrafted in every sense. From the first nosing, it’s clear this is Michter’s at its most expressive: bold oak, deep sweetness, and seamless balance.
Bomberger’s Declaration Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 2024 Release
Brand: Michter’s | Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon | ABV: ~54% | Origin: Kentucky, USA | Vol: 70cl
Tasting Profile:
Nose: Dark caramel, toasted oak, and vanilla bean rise first, joined by roasted coffee, cocoa, and a whisper of tobacco.
Palate: Lush and powerful with layers of molasses, brown sugar, dried fruit, and warm spice. The oak is assertive yet refined, framing a core of rich sweetness.
Finish: Long, warming, and structured, fading through waves of spice, charred oak, and bittersweet chocolate.
Production Details:
As with previous editions, the 2023 release uses a small-batch blend of well-aged Kentucky bourbon partially matured in custom Chinquapin oak barrels. These staves are air-dried for more than three years before toasting and charring, creating deep flavor and a distinct spicy edge. Under Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson, every component is tasted and blended to achieve Michter’s hallmark balance of depth and finesse.
Perfect For:
Perfect for collectors or anyone who savors bourbon that tells a story. This whiskey belongs in quiet, unhurried moments, shared among enthusiasts, or enjoyed alone beside a good record and a bit of reflection.
Expert Notes:
Reviewers have called the 2023 release “a study in controlled power.” The Chinquapin oak imparts extra spice and dryness that complements Michter’s signature sweetness, creating one of the most harmoniously layered Bomberger’s editions to date.
Customer Reviews:
“Big oak, warm spice, and a silk-smooth finish, classic Michter’s craftsmanship.” Alex J.
“Every year’s good, but 2023 feels richer and darker. The oak just sings.” Paula S.
“Worth the chase. You taste heritage in every sip.” Nate L.
Interesting Fact:
The original Bomberger’s Distillery, founded in the 1800s in Pennsylvania, eventually evolved into Michter’s. The modern series revives that historic name to honor America’s earliest whiskey makers and their dedication to honest, small-scale production.
Serving Suggestions:
Enjoy neat to appreciate its full depth, or add a few drops of water to draw out layers of caramel and spice. It pairs beautifully with roasted nuts, dark chocolate, or pecan tart.
Distillery Background:
Michter’s traces its lineage to 1753 and now operates from Louisville, Kentucky, where it continues to define the upper tier of American whiskey. Guided by obsessive attention to grain selection, barrel seasoning, and maturation, Michter’s produces whiskies known for balance, richness, and integrity. The Bomberger’s Declaration series stands as its historical flagship—linking centuries of tradition to today’s most refined bourbon craftsmanship.
