Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey honors the legacy of historic American whiskey figure John Shenk, who in 1753 founded a distillery that was to become known as Michter’s in the 20th Century. It is made in Kentucky according to the traditional Sour Mash process whereby a portion of the previously distilled whiskey mash (referred to as “setback”) is added into the next batch. This full-bodied small batch whiskey is 91.2 proof.

Similar to previous releases, this 2025 Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey is an expression made with a good amount of rye. To accentuate the rye characters, some of the fully matured whiskey was finished in toasted only French oak barrels that were not charred. This wood was sourced from the Vosges region of France before being naturally air dried and seasoned for 24 months and being toasted to our exacting specifications. With this year’s release using the toasted French oak, a bolder, lingering spice emerges balanced by some dried fruit and toasty burnt sugar and toffee qualities.

Tasting Notes