About Woodford Reserve Bourbon Whiskey

Woodford Reserve Bourbon Whiskey is a small batch bourbon made at a historic site in Woodford County, Kentucky. It is a premium bourbon, and enjoys the distinction of being the official bourbon of both the Kentucky Derby and the Breeder's Cup horse races. Although not a historic bourbon whiskey, it is made in an antique fashion and on a truly historic site, and is one of the best small batch bourbons on the market today.

Identification

Bourbon whiskey is distinguished from other forms of whiskey by a handful of characteristics. First, the alcohol must be made from a mixture that contains at least 51% corn. It cannot be distilled to higher than 160 proof, and it must be aged in new charred oak barrels for at least 2 years. Bourbon whiskey does not necessarily need to be made in Kentucky, although most of it is. The limestone groundwater of Kentucky lends quality to the taste of Kentucky-made bourbon, and this is not generally found elsewhere, but it is not legally required that bourbon whiskey necessarily come from the Bluegrass State.

Types

Woodford Reserve is a small batch bourbon. This means that it is a blended whiskey that is drawn literally from a small batch. It is not mass-produced, mass-market whiskey. Small batches are typically aged at least 8 years.

Features

The standard bottle of Woodford Reserve is blended from whiskey that has been aged for 6 years, although the distillery does release some special labels that have been aged longer. It is made in old-fashioned copper pot stills, and bottled at 90.4 proof. The scent is very woody, but the taste is smooth and evenly balanced: it is a little sweet, a little fiery and a little smoky. It goes down with the same smooth balance that it had on the palate.

History

Woodford Reserve is located in the old Oscar Pepper distillery near Versailles, in Woodford County, Kentucky. This is very close to the famous and historic Keeneland horse racing track. The site has been used for bourbon-making since 1812, and the buildings on the property are a National Historic Landmark. The current set of buildings, some of them constructed from the local limestone fieldstones, were erected around 1865. The property has changed hands many times, and the current owners of Brown-Forman did not begin making bourbon there until the mid-1990s.

Expert Insight

Woodford Reserve is a solid middle-of-the-road small batch bourbon. It is well-rounded, but also sophisticated, so it appeals to whiskey snobs and neophytes alike. Its price (typically $32/bottle) makes it very accessible. It makes an excellent introduction to small batch bourbons, and is also just a good bottle of whiskey to have on your shelf for drinking on every day occasions.