Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve® Master Collection Historic Barrel Entry
In 2004 the Woodford Reserve Distillery introduced a new era of innovation to the historic Kentucky Bourbon industry with the first release of its Master’s Collection, “Four Grain”. For this 2022 release Master Distiller Chris Morris and Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall have drawn upon the rich history of Kentucky Bourbon and their own interests for inspiration. When “new make” Bourbon is entered into the barrel it begins the maturation process.
There are many factors involved in this and barrel entry proof plays an important role. Proof is controlled both as it enters the barrel (barrel entry proof) and as it leaves the barrel (bottle proof) by adding water to achieve a desired flavor profile. A higher concentration of water added as it enters the barrel, resulting in a lower proof, allows for less water to be added upon exit, which results in a greater concentration of the natural flavors absorbed from the charred oak. Barrel entry proof has changed over the past two centuries. The bourbon of the 19th century had a barrel entry of 100 to 103 proof. After the repeal of Prohibition, barrel entry proof levels began to increase.
In 1962 the barrel entry proof was increased to the present 125 proof standard. This 2022 Master’s Collection features the 100 proof entry of a bygone era and is presented at 90.4 proof. The result is this Historic Barrel Entry, a rich and darkly robust expression of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
TASTING NOTES
- Colour: Deep russet orange.
- Nose: An alluring medley of vanilla bean and dried apple dusted with nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon with a hint of cocoa. Roasted coffee and hazelnut soften into notes of dark cherry and plum muddled with spearmint.
- Taste: Rich toasted oak is tempered by overripe banana and a medley of cooked berry fruits. Hints of leather, coffee, and baking spice trail into minty dark chocolate.
- Finish: A lingering finish of charred oak, leather, and orange oil.
Woodford Reserve® Master Collection Sonoma Triple Finish
In 2004, the Woodford Reserve Distillery introduced a new era of innovation to the historic Kentucky Bourbon industry with the first release of its Master’s Collection, Four Grain. For this 2023 release, Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall has drawn upon prior creative releases and continued product experimentation for inspiration.
In 2014, the Master’s Collection released the first Pinot Noir finished Kentucky Bourbon in history, Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Finish. This was followed in 2016 with the first-ever American Brandy Cask finished Bourbon. The Pinot Noir and brandy barrels used for these releases were obtained from famous Sonoma County wineries. These releases featured big, bold, red and dried fruit flavors along with dark chocolate and baking spice notes. At the same time, many wineries began to age their red wines in used Woodford Reserve barrels to create a new “Bourbon Barrel Aged” genre. These wines featured rich vanilla and caramel notes. Consumer response to all three has been overwhelmingly positive. This inspired Elizabeth to experiment with various combinations of the three— including finishing Woodford Reserve in Sonoma County wine barrels that had originally been used to mature Woodford Reserve. The result, Sonoma Triple Finish, is a unique blend of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey that has been finished in Sonoma County Pinot Noir, Brandy, and former Bourbon barrels used to age red wine. Sonoma Triple Finish is a rich, fruity, vanilla and spice-forward expression of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
TASTING NOTES
- Colour: Burnt Sienna
- Nose: Vanilla and cinnamon dusted grilled pineapple slices and red plum fruit.
- Taste: Vine and red fruit warmed with rich vanilla bean and oak notes.
- Finish: Long oak and red grape tannins.
Woodford Reserve® Holiday Edition
The Limited Edition Woodford Reserve Holiday Bottle is made-to-gift and ready to dazzle this season. With over 200 flavor notes to discover, every sip is a Spectacle for the Senses.
The art of making fine bourbon first took place on the site of the Woodford Reserve Distillery, a National Historic Landmark, in 1812. The perfectly balanced taste of our Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is comprised of more than 200 detectable flavor notes, from bold grain and wood, to sweet aromatics, spice, and fruit & floral notes.
TASTING NOTES
- Nose: Heavy with rich dried fruit, hints of mint and oranges covered with a dusting of cocoa. Faint vanilla and tobacco spice.
- Taste: Rich, chewy, rounded and smooth, with complex citrus, cinnamon and cocoa. Toffee, caramel, chocolate and spice notes abound.
- Finish: Silky smooth, almost creamy at first with a long, warm satisfying tail.
Woodford Reserve® Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey
Woodford Reserve Wheat Whiskey is a modern interpretation of a classic straight American whiskey through wheat grain innovation. With a nod to history balanced with the pioneering spirit of Woodford Reserve, our Wheat Whiskey becomes the fruit-forward expression within our Five Areas of Flavor offerings. This Wheat Whiskey is unique as it is made using all four grain types. After Prohibition the Federal Government approved four straight whiskey standards: Bourbon, Rye, Malt and Wheat. These reflected the types of whiskies produced in the United States prior to Prohibition. With the introduction our Wheat Whiskey, Woodford Reserve will be the first to produce all four types.
TASTING NOTES
- Nose: Cooked fruit (apple, pear, banana) and aromatic spices (cinnamon and cedar) mingle with a delicate floral character sweetened with light vanilla bean and brown sugar notes.
- Taste: Spicy applesauce and toasted coconut notes enliven an earthy mint and cocoa nibs mix.
- Finish: Dry, subtle cocoa nibs and apple peel fruit linger on.
Woodford Reserve® Derby 147 (2021 Edition)
March 2, 2021 – Louisville, KY – Woodford Reserve, the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby, is honoring “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” with the release of its 2021 commemorative Derby bottle.
It features the artwork of Louisville resident Richard Sullivan, a former professional baseball player. Sullivan’s stunning watercolor is of thoroughbreds as they thunder down the stretch. It was designed as a complement to last year’s Derby bottle artwork, which Sullivan also created.
TASTING NOTES
- Colour : Clean, brilliant honey amber.
- Nose : Heavy with rich dried fruit, hints of mint and oranges covered with a dusting of cocoa. Faint vanilla and tobacco spice.
- Taste: Rich, chewy, rounded and smooth, with complex citrus, cinnamon and cocoa. Toffee, caramel, chocolate and spice notes abound.
- Finish : Silky smooth, almost creamy at first with a long, warm satisfying tail.
Woodford Reserve® Baccarat
THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF THE BEST AMERICAN WHISKEY & FINEST FRENCH COGNAC
Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition is crafted by uniquely finishing the most complex and balanced Kentucky Bourbon in select XO Cognac barrels.
Sourced by our Master Distiller Chris Morris, each barrel has seen three seasons of cognac before being filled with Woodford Reserve.The result is the best of both spirits – a balance of crisp American and French oak notes, complex fruit character, subtle spiciness and a creamy confectionary finish.
Process : Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon finished in the finest XO Cognac barrels, bottled in handmade decanters from the artists at Baccarat – the only American whiskey currently available in the precious crystal.
Proof : 90.4
TASTING NOTES
- Colour: Deep Brown
- Nose: Rich toasted oak dusted with chocolate and cocoa notes, creamy vanilla bean, and hints of clove and cinnamon spice cover a deep layer of dried fruit and citrus peel.
- Taste: Elegant vanilla, dark chocolate, dried fruit and creamy caramel top layers of rich malt and oak.
- Finish: Velvety with a long delicately spiced caramel mocha note.