Why Michter’s $6,000 Celebration Sour Mash Is Redefining Luxury American Whiskey
When Michter’s Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson and Master Distiller Dan McKee sit down to build a new edition of Celebration Sour Mash, they’re not chasing an age statement or a headline number. They’re composing. The 2025 Edition — a $6,000 blend of seven barrels ranging from 12 to more than 30 years old — ships this month, marking only the fifth release of Celebration and the first since 2022. Just 315 bottles exist and while the scarcity will grab collectors’ attention, the real significance lies in the thinking behind it: blending has become a new measure of luxury. The 2025 Celebration is built from four Kentucky straight rye barrels and three Kentucky straight bourbon barrels, each selected for what they contribute to the whole rather than for any single standout trait. Wilson describes the process as “respecting the art of maturing whiskey to its perfect moment, not a specific age,” while McKee emphasizes the balance between the oldest barrels — some more than 30 years ol...
