For many of us, Woodford Reserve, along with Knob Creek, ushered in the premium Bourbon market and, with that, the premium Bourbon experience. Before that, it seems if you wanted something better than Jim, Jack, or Evan, you would step up and order Crown Royal, which isn’t even a Bourbon. So, Woodford has a special place in our hearts. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is distilled by the Woodford Reserve Distillery, owned by Brown-Foreman. From the Woodford website, ” The art of making fine bourbon first took place on the site of the Woodford Reserve Distillery, a National Historic Landmark, in 1812″. So, they have been around for a while.
Woodford Reserve Bourbon sells for around $30, is 90.4 proof, is available anywhere liquor is sold, and comes in a sharp-looking corked bottle. It has a mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley. We could not find an age statement on the bottle or the website, but it is believed to be 6-7 years old. Interestingly, it is made from a combination of pot and column stills.
We mentioned Woodford sells for $30. Strangely, that is what it was priced at when first released over twenty years ago, which seemed high back then. Funny, too, is now, with the massive influx of high-end Bourbons to the market in the last 15 years, most people we know do not even consider Woodford to be a premium Bourbon anymore. We also mentioned Woodford has a special place in our hearts. That doesn’t imply that it is any good, just that we liked it back then. Let’s see how it holds up.
NOSE
Matt: A little hot with a slightly sweet caramel corn-type aroma. Also, get a little green, or new wood. Ice kills everything and smells like an empty Bourbon glass.
Todd: The classic Bourbon scents of caramel, oak, vanilla, and corn come through. Also, pick up traces of leather, cocoa, and tobacco. I agree; ice did nothing.
TASTE
Matt: Sweet with hints of vanilla and maple syrup. I also get a faint bit of toffee. There is also a spice that I can’t quite pin down. Ice brings out a little bit of vanilla ice cream.
Todd: Caramel and toasted oak speak to me first, with some nuttiness, corn, and chocolate coming in behind that. Also, just a trace of honey. Drinkable neat, but I prefer with a cube.
FINISH
Matt: Medium with some more sweetness. Like the taste, I feel like there is more here, but just can’t pick it out. Maybe it’s a bad tongue day.
Todd: Medium long with more of the same. We both might be taste bud challenged today, I am also having a hard time naming a taste on the finish, maybe vanilla cream pie?
OVERALL
Matt: Woodford is worth the $30.
Todd: I actually liked it, definitely worth $30.
Nose 3.5 out of 5
Taste 7.25 out of 10
Finish 3.75 out 5
Total score 14.5 out of 20 barrels.
Seems Woodford Reserve still has a place in our hearts. Nothing here that jumps out at you and screams buy me because I am that good. No, it’s just a solid Bourbon at a great price. And while not overly complex, it is complex enough to enjoy and makes for a great old fashion.
In the end, it has a lot of the traditional Bourbon scents and tastes at a good price. It is still hugely popular, so you might have guests who ask for it by name. And the now iconic bottle is very recognizable by the Bourbon community. For those reasons, we always keep a bottle of Woodford Reserve Bourbon in our cabinets and think you should as well.