This December 2016, Michter's Distillery released its Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey for the first time in three years. It is the last Celebration release blended by Willie Pratt before his retirement as Michter's Master Distiller and his transition to Michter's Master Distiller Emeritus.

To make this 2016 Celebration Whiskey, Mr. Pratt selected his very favorite stocks of Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Kentucky Straight Rye from Michter's entire inventory and blended portions of them together. The six barrels chosen for blending the 2016 Celebration release range from over a decade to nearly 33 years old. The 2016 release is 116.8 proof (58.4% alcohol by volume).

"Our Michter's team takes great pride in every single bottle of whiskey we offer. When we first released Michter's Celebration Sour Mash in 2013, it was our goal to show that an extraordinary American whiskey could rival the very finest spirits produced anywhere in the world. This year, Willie has done just that yet again. With his masterful barrel selection and blending, Willie's sum of the parts is even greater than each of those remarkable parts independently," said Michter's President Joseph J. Magliocco.

Pamela Heilmann, Willie's successor as Michter's Master Distiller, commented, "Blending is an art, and I value the opportunity I've had to work with a virtuoso like Willie. This 2016 Celebration release is an exceptional whiskey."

Offered in the U.S. and select export markets, the 2016 Michter's Celebration Sour Mash release will consist of a total of 256 bottles.