Today was the 149th Kentucky Derby, and in honor of that we decided to review the Woodford Reserve bourbon.
The Woodford Reserve is aged roughly 7 years, and comes in at 45.2% ABV (90.4 Proof).
Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malt
The nose on this is full of oak, and is very sweet. With some notes of leather and smoke that come through as well, it definitely entices.
The palate is soft on the front, but sweet and leads into a full and layered sip. Some spiciness compliments the sweet flavors of vanilla, oak, and butterscotch, with a bit of tobacco mixed in there. There are also hints of almonds that are noticeable on the sip. The rye on the mash is definitely noticeable, and adds some nice complex layers. A ridiculously smooth bourbon, with a long, lingering finish that shows the age well.
With a couple drops of water:
On the nose, the toasted oak grows a lot, and the leather notes fade a little bit. Honey and vanilla are noticeable, along with some almonds.
The palate is still very soft right away, some butterscotch right up front, but the rye explodes on the mid palate, really hitting the sides of the tongue. The back end has a lot of vanilla and sweet lingering flavors, with a finish that doesn’t lose any after water is added.
Ratings:
A:88/100
Z:92/100
O:90/100
It’s easy to see why this is the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, it is terrific to drink on it’s own, and makes one fantastic Mint Julep. It is a great price as well, around the $35 mark. Definitely one we recommend picking up.
