Woodford reserve kentucky straight bourbon whiskey review

Woodford Reserve is a brand of small-batch Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey produced by the Brown-Forman Corporation. It is also one of the oldest Distillers in the Kentucky county. A distiller named Elijah Pepper began producing small amounts of whiskey in 1797 and soon afterwards built a distillery.

Table of Contents Show

Is Woodford Reserve a good sipping bourbon?
What does Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey taste like?
Is Woodford Reserve considered top shelf?
What is special about Woodford Reserve?

Following Elijah’s death in 1831, his son Oscar Pepper inherited the distillery. The distillery became known as The Oscar Pepper Distillery. He hired Dr James Crow as the head distiller.

Crow was a Scotsman who qualified as a physician and a chemist. He championed the sour mash fermentation process that is key in the production of bourbon. After changing hands a few times and falling in disrepair, Brown-Forman purchased the property in 1993 and refurbished it to bring it back into operation. They renamed it The Woodford Reserve Distillery in 2003.

Woodford Reserve Bourbon was introduced to the market in 1996. In 1995 the distillery listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in 2000, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.

The mash bill for Woodford Reserve bourbon features a high percentage of rye. It has a 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malt ratio. Unusual also for being triple distilled and having the lowest proof upon entering the barrel where it matures for at least six years.

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REGION: World Whisky; USA Bourbon

ABV: 43.2%

COLOUR: A dark copper and described by some as a honey amber. It is a very oily whiskey.

NOSE: Notes of honey sweetness with apricots and oranges in the background. There are bits of condensed milk richness mixed with vanilla, dark chocolate and hints of spices.

PALATE: On the palate, there is oak and sweetness perfectly balanced with a bit of peach, ripe cherries and cinnamon spiciness. There are notes of tangy winter fruits and vanilla mixed in with a hint of toffee sweetness in the background. Woodford Reserve bourbon is rich, buttery and smooth with a full body and a satisfying mouthfeel.

FINISH: Long and lingering and end in notes of sweet spices.

RATING: EXCELLENT

A great bourbon when you are in the mood for something delicious. It has the perfect balance between sweet and spicy with enough toasted oak to make it yummy. Easy drinking and affordable. One of my favourite bourbons to date. I paired this delicious bourbon with some Hawaiian pizza It makes for a perfect match. It also works marvelously in an Old Fashioned Cocktail.

During 2017 I tried the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked bourbon. All I can say is… O my word… Notes of malva pudding!

I have started a series where I compare two whiskies with each other. Not to see who is better, but to look at what is the strong point of each whisky. The first comparison is between the Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel. Go and look what how they differ and my suggestion for when to drink each release.

I have also done a side by side comparison between the Gentleman Jack and the Woodford Reserve. Putting them together really shows one’s strengths. This is a very popurlar bourbon to use for side by side comparisons; I have also done a comparison between this release and the Bulleit Bourbon.

This is also the perfect bourbon to pair with a tropical or Hawaiian pizza.

Also Read: Jack Daniel’s vs Gentleman Jack Tennessee whiskey

Is Woodford Reserve a good sipping bourbon?

Woodford Reserve is a really high quality sipping bourbon and an easy entry point for the whiskey newcomer. That's because the palate of this bourbon is sweet and soft, with just a bit of spice lingering in the background.

What does Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey taste like?

Taste: Sweet, spicy, warm and creamy. It has a full and rounded character, which starts with caramel and vanilla but spice and oak hit back to create a balanced and delicious taste. The spice and chocolate notes work perfectly and harmoniously with a touch of citrus to give it a fresh and zingy edge.

Is Woodford Reserve considered top shelf?

Woodford Reserve Why We Liked It: Woodford Reserve is a known whiskey brand that offers top-shelf whiskeys. It produces a perfectly balanced taste and comprises more than 200 flavor notes from the oak and bold grains.

What is special about Woodford Reserve?

Woodford Reserve Rye uses a pre-prohibition style ratio of 53% rye in its mash bill to pay homage to history's original rye whiskeys, making spice and tobacco the dominant note among a sea of fruit, floral, and sweet aromatics, which yields a nice sweetness and overall balance.

woodford reserve kentucky straight bourbon whiskey review