Michter’s Distillery said it won’t be releasing its Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Bourbon during 2016.
“The problem is every drop of our Toasted Barrel Bourbon that we release this year is one less drop of our Michter’s US*1 Bourbon that we have to allocate to our distributors and importers,” said Michter’s Distillery President Joseph J. Magliocco.
Michter’s also said it will double its M2 distillery’s capacity, thereby bringing supply into better balance with demand for its ryes, bourbons, and whiskeys. Located in the Shively section of Louisville, Michter’s M2 Distillery is currently operating at its maximum distillation capacity of 500,000 proof gallons per year.
When Michter’s M2 Distillery resumes distillation in August after a month shutdown for yearly maintenance, the distillery’s new distillation capacity will be 1 million proof gallons a year. The American distillers’ standard measurement of alcohol production, a proof gallon is one liquid gallon at 100 proof at 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
“By adding four more 16,000 gallon fermenters with a total capacity of 64,000 gallons and going to a second shift, we can make twice as much of the same great whiskey as we do now. Once again I was given carte blanche to put in the very best equipment,” Michter’s Vice President-Production & Distiller Pamela Heilmann. The new equipment installed for the expansion was custom built for Michter’s by legendary Louisville-based still maker Vendome.
Heilmann formerly was Distillery Manager at Booker Noe Distillery, the largest bourbon distillery in the world at that time