Brand: Woodford Reserve
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Age: NAS (Probably at least 6 years)
Alcohol: 43.2%
Colour:
Shiny Dark Amber
Nose:
The Nose is a bit different from the Bourbons I’ve tasted so far. It’s Kentucky
Straight alright but with references to Scotch and Irish Whisk(e)y. Of course
there are the immediate Vanilla and Sweet Corn impressions but there’s also a
very strong presence of Oak and Oranges and Spices like Nutmeg and Ginger. Additionally
I find Mint, Fruit and Honey tones. This Nose needs some patience but will reward you!
Taste:
A combination of Fruit, Toffee, Oak, Maple Syrup, slightly Bitter Grain,
Orange, Ginger and Mint. I wouldn’t call this an extremely smooth whiskey! If
you’re in to Sweet Bourbons, this might not be your call.
Finish:
Strong and Dry with Oak, Rye, Black Pepper, Ginger and Nutmeg.
I
added a couple of drops of Water and the Nose becomes more mellow with Sweet
Corn, Honey, Vanilla and Oranges in the lead. Palate and Finish do not seem to
benefit a lot from the additional water but I would surely advise you to
experiment a bit with a couple of drops.
Rating: 80
Nose: 21– Taste: 20– Finish: 19–
Overall: 20
General
Remarks: Elijah Pepper started distilling whiskey on the banks of Glenn’s Creek
in 1812. Today, the facility is the oldest operational Distillery in Kentucky. The
Whiskey produced here is triple distilled in copper pot stills imported from
Scotland. The Master Distiller (Chris Morris) selects the matured charred White
Oak barrels from this Distillery and vats them with selected barrels from the Brown-Forman
stocks to produce the Woodford Reserve. The Mash Bill consists of 72% Corn, 18%
Rye and 10% Malted Barley. Today I tasted bottle 07602 from Batch 293. The
Woodford Reserve is bottled by Labrot & Graham Distillers Company of
Versailles, Kentucky.
Drinking
Experience Neat: Good
Drinking
Experience on the Rocks: Good
Conclusion:
This Bourbon is certainly different from the ones I tasted so far. It starts
with the Nose that has some clear references to Scotch and Irish whisk(e)y. On
the Palate and in the Finish you will find the Woodford quite Woody and Spicy.
I won’t go so far as to call it harsh but I certainly don’t consider it to be very
smooth either. If you like your Bourbon Sweet as Honey, the Woodford Reserve
would not be your obvious choice. But if you like it Rough and Woody, this
might just be what you’re looking for!
Jan
van den Ende September 30, 2012
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