Bomberger’s Declaration Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Not disclosed, though bottled by Michter’s Distillery
• MASH BILL: Not disclosed
• AGE: Not disclosed, but judging by its deep copper hue, circa 6 years
• YEAR: 2024
• PROOF: 108 (54% ABV)
• MSRP: $120
• BUY ONLINE: Wine-Searcher

STEVE’S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Any whiskey fan.

WORTH THE PRICE: Maybe. It would be a terrific bottle to buy for a special occasion or gift.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bar before bottle.

OVERALL: According to the company, this year’s release of Bomberger’s, like the 2023 bottling, has some malted rye in its grain recipe and Chinquapin (Quercus muehlenbergii) oak (dried for 36 months, then toasted and charred) was used to accentuate dark chocolate and stewed fruit notes, along with spice notes to provide balanced complexity.

The nose is a simple pleasure and delicate in every respect: nicely floral and tropical fruity, a little honeyed, a splash of rosewater and candied violets.

It’s more assertive on the palate, striking swiftly and brightly with prickly white pepper, baking spice and a load of toasted oak that’s neither tannic nor dry. The mouthfeel falls just short of weighty, but it’s lush and well-rounded, like an old school California chardonnay. Its elegance bears no pretension; it’s svelte, haute couture that’s confidently eye catching beside Michter’s better-known and more Saville Row siblings.

BRAND NOTES

In 1753, Swiss Mennonite farmer John Shenk founded Shenk’s distillery in Pennsylvania. This distillery was later renamed Bomberger’s Distillery in the 1800s before its name changed again to Michter’s Distillery in the mid-20th Century. It is this heritage that the Michter’s Legacy Series honors.

• APPEARANCE: Rich mahogany
• NOSE: Dark fruit accompanied by nuts and maple
• PALATE: An exceptional whiskey that opens with deep rich molasses giving way to layers of jammy fruit and transitioning into rich chocolate and baking spice
• FINISH: Lingering and complex

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.