Reserve

Woodford Reserve is a Kentucky straight bourbon rooted in 1812, when Elijah Pepper established his distillery along Glenns Creek in Woodford County. The name honours this historic site, now a National Historic Landmark where the craft of distillation has flourished for over two centuries. The mashbill is unconventional for bourbon: wheat leads at 52%, followed by malt (20%), corn (20%), and rye (8%)—a composition that yields fruit and floral notes rather than the heavier grain character typical of the category.

Matured in new charred American oak, the whisky develops classic bourbon markers of vanilla and wood while remaining approachable at 43.2% ABV. The brand claims over 200 detectable flavour layers, a testament to its complexity.

In the glass: clear amber with orange hues. On the nose, honey, vanilla, and light oak mingle with cherry, apricot, and peach, finishing with clove and cinnamon. The palate brings dark chocolate and caramel, spices held in check by the wheat-forward sweetness. The finish is soft and lingering, with warm oak and lingering spice.