Metze's Select Bourbon Whiskey 750ML

Metze's Select Bourbon Whiskey 750ML is a limited-edition blend of three high-rye bourbons bottled at 46.5% ABV (93 proof) from MGP's Lawrenceburg, Indiana distillery. Only 6,000 bottles were produced worldwide, and the expression earned a Double Gold Medal at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition—a testament to the caliber of liquid hand-selected by legendary Master Distiller Greg Metze.

Quick Facts: ABV: 46.5% (93 proof)  |  Origin: Lawrenceburg, Indiana, USA  |  Blend of aged high-rye bourbons (2006 & 2008 vintages)  |  Distillery: MGP of Indiana

Production & Heritage

MGP's Lawrenceburg distillery—one of the largest and most historically significant bourbon and rye production facilities in the United States—served as the source for every drop of Metze's Select. Greg Metze, who spent decades as MGP's Master Distiller, personally chose barrels from three distinct high-rye bourbon recipes for this blend: 38% from a 2006-distilled bourbon carrying a 21% rye mashbill, 3% from a 2006-distilled bourbon with a more aggressive 36% rye content, and the remaining 59% from a 2008-distilled bourbon at 21% rye. The result is a proprietary blend unlike anything MGP had previously sold to its many contract clients, making it a singular statement of Metze's blending philosophy rather than a commercial workhorse whiskey.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Sweet notes lead the way—caramel, vanilla, and butterscotch layered over a distinctive cream soda quality. Rye spice emerges behind the sweetness, along with teaberry, cinnamon, and spearmint hard candy as noted by Whisky Advocate reviewer Lew Bryson.

Taste: The palate shifts decisively toward rye-driven character, with baking spice, brown sugar, and oak tannins at the forefront. Extended aging has drawn the sharpness out of the rye grain, leaving a silky interplay of buttered toffee, apricot, and clove. A citrus brightness and faint amaretto sweetness round out the mid-palate.

Finish: Long, warm, and pleasantly lingering, with black pepper, rye spice, and seasoned oak carrying through to the end. A final whisper of caramel sweetness balances the drying wood tannins.

How to Drink Metze's Select

Given its limited production and layered complexity, Metze's Select is best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water to open the blend's apricot and toffee nuances. The 93 proof provides enough structure to hold up in cocktails without losing character. A Manhattan benefits from the bourbon's high-rye backbone and brown sugar depth. An Old Fashioned lets the butterscotch and vanilla notes shine against a simple bitters-and-sugar foundation. A Boulevardier pairs the spice-forward profile with Campari's bitterness for a robust, warming drink.

Best For

• Gifting a serious bourbon collector who values limited-production releases
• Adding a unicorn bottle to a home whiskey library
• Hosting a side-by-side tasting of MGP-sourced bourbons
• Celebrating a milestone occasion with a whiskey that numbers only 6,000 bottles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Metze's Select taste like? Metze's Select delivers a rye-spice-driven bourbon profile anchored by butterscotch, brown sugar, and oak, with supporting notes of apricot, clove, and cream soda. The finish is long and warm with lingering black pepper and caramel.

How does Metze's Select compare to Bulleit Bourbon? Both draw from MGP's high-rye bourbon recipes, but Metze's Select is a limited blend of aged barrels personally curated by Master Distiller Greg Metze and bottled at a higher 93 proof. Bulleit is a widely available, younger bourbon at 90 proof, making Metze's Select a more complex and collectible expression from the same distillery.

Is Metze's Select good for sipping neat? Absolutely—the 46.5% ABV delivers full-bodied flavor without excessive heat, and the extended aging smooths out the rye grain into a silky, layered sipper. A few drops of water further reveal the toffee and apricot notes.

Where is Metze's Select made? Metze's Select is mashed, distilled, and aged entirely at MGP's historic distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, a facility with roots stretching back to the 1800s that produces bourbon and rye for numerous American whiskey brands.

What foods pair well with Metze's Select? Smoked pork ribs complement the bourbon's brown sugar and oak character. Sharp aged cheddar mirrors its butterscotch and spice. Dark chocolate truffles echo the deep caramel sweetness. Pecan pie aligns with the toffee and vanilla notes. Charcuterie with dried apricot highlights the bourbon's stone-fruit undertone.

What sizes does Metze's Select come in? Metze's Select was released in the standard 750ml bottle format as part of its limited 6,000-bottle production run.

Is Metze's Select worth the price? Metze's Select positions as a premium-to-collectible expression due to its extremely limited 6,000-bottle run, Double Gold Medal pedigree, and the involvement of one of American whiskey's most respected master distillers. For bourbon enthusiasts seeking a bottle with genuine provenance and scarcity, it represents strong value within the allocated bourbon category.

Why Metze's Select?

This is not simply another MGP-sourced bourbon with a private label—it is a personal statement from the man who oversaw distillation at Lawrenceburg for decades. The three-bourbon blend architecture, combining barrels distilled six to ten years prior across two distinct rye percentages, produces a flavor profile MGP confirmed was wholly unique and never previously sold to any contract partner. A Double Gold Medal at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition validated the blend's quality against thousands of entries. With only 6,000 bottles ever produced, Metze's Select stands as one of the rarest official releases to carry the MGP name and Greg Metze's personal endorsement.