Denver Cramer is back, and we’re finishing a bottle the right way: on the mic, with a Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye (2016).

We talk about the signature Michter’s profile and why it hits so consistently. Denver’s take is simple and convincing: barrels, careful temperature control during ageing, and that lower barrel entry proof mindset that prioritises flavour over efficiency.

Then we get nerdy about glassware. Denver explains what the glass is doing by pushing off volatile alcohol so the flavours show up cleaner, which becomes immediately relevant when we wildly underestimate the proof.

From there it turns into a broader conversation about rye. Why it’s harder to distil, why a truly great rye is rare, and how the real world of whiskey includes commercial decisions: barrels that don’t fit the “house profile”, blending constraints, and why some great liquid never becomes the product people expect.

If you’ve ever wondered why Michter’s feels so recognisable, this one connects a lot of dots.

00:00 Intro and bottle kill