Michter’s 2025 Legacy Series Hits Retail Shelves in July

Two of Michter’s most popular whiskeys are returning for 2025. And continuing a trend from last year, both feature innovative barrel aging to develop layered flavor profiles.

Bomberger’s Declaration Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey will be back on shelves starting this July. Together, they make up two-thirds of the Michter’s Legacy Series of whiskeys. Earlier this year, the inaugural release of Bomberger’s PFG (short for “Precision Fine Grain”) was introduced as the third member of the series.

The Legacy Series holds a special position among Michter’s products, allowing the company latitude to explore different flavor profiles through various grain types, mash bills, and aging techniques.

First launched in 2014, Bomberger’s Declaration is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey bottled at 108 proof. In recent years, the expression has included a portion of distillate aged in Chinkapin oak barrels instead of the more typical American white oak. Michter’s emphasizes wood science as “key to the character” of the Bomberger’s Declaration line.

“Once again, Chinkapin barrels have contributed to the hallmark flavor of Bomberger’s Declaration,” says Michter’s master of maturation, Andrea Wilson, in a statement. “For this year’s release, we used a spectrum of different barrels constructed from wood naturally seasoned outdoors in varying cases from 18 months to three years to four years to five years, thus changing the chemistry of the oak’s contributions during aging. The result is a bold and multi-dimensional experience to savor and enjoy.”

Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey was first bottled in 2018 and has since joined Bomberger’s Declaration as a limited annual release. Bottled at 91.2 proof, it’s among Michter’s most experimental expressions and sometimes features grain varietals rarely seen in other American whiskeys. For example, the 2024 release of Shenk’s used rye, malted rye, and — for the first time — caramel malt in the recipe.

“I really enjoy the bold and lingering baking spice notes in the 2025 Shenk’s release,” says Michter’s master distiller Dan McKee. “Some of it was finished in French oak toasted, but not charred barrels crafted from wood grown in the Vosges forest, and this helped to accentuate the character of the rye in this whiskey.”

Similar to the brand’s US*1 Sour Mash Whiskey, Shenk’s doesn’t meet the criteria to be classified as a bourbon or rye, hence the “sour mash whiskey” labeling. Michter’s generally declines to provide many more details about Shenk’s, including the mash bill, but the company has described it as having a “rye-forward profile.”  

Shenk’s, Bomberger’s Declaration, and Bomberger’s PGF are all non-age-stated whiskeys, meaning Michter’s doesn’t disclose exactly how long each whiskey matures. Since Bomberger’s is labeled a straight bourbon whiskey with no other age statement, it must be at least four years old. But that doesn’t mean the expressions are necessarily young, and it’s widely believed each bottling contains significantly older distillate.

All three Legacy Series whiskeys pay homage to the brand’s origins and history. Shenk’s is named after Swiss Mennonite farmer John Shenk, who established his Pennsylvania distillery in 1753. That facility later became Bomberger’s Distillery before finally being renamed Michter’s around 1950.

The Pennsylvania distillery closed down several decades later, and in 1997, current Michter’s President Joseph Magliocco acquired the trademark before relocating operations to Kentucky. Today, Michter’s main distillery is located in Shively, Kentucky. The company also runs a smaller distillery and famed bar along downtown Louisville’s Whiskey Row.

Bomberger’s Declaration is bottled at 54% ABV with a suggested retail price of $120. Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey is bottled at 45.6% ABV and has a suggested retail price of $110. Both whiskeys will be available on U.S. shelves starting this July.