Woodford Reserve
About the Distillery
Woodford Reserve sits in the heart of Kentucky horse country, blending historic charm with modern barrel experimentation. The distillery is both a National Historic Landmark and an active production environment, where small batches, a fixed mash bill, and its own cooperage meet long fermentation and a hybrid of pot and column distillation. The result is a broad palette of bourbon, rye, wheat, and malt expressions — from core releases to special editions and artistically presented Derby bottles.
History
The site where Woodford Reserve now calls home traces back to 1812, and the property is noted as a National Historic Landmark. Over time, the site has become a symbol of the blending of Kentucky's two great products: bourbon and thoroughbred horses. In modern times, key figures such as Chris Morris, who began his bourbon career in 1976, and Elizabeth McCall, who started in 2009 and was named Master Distiller in 2023, have shaped the distillery's direction. The transition in the Master Distiller role marks an ongoing commitment to both tradition and innovation, where historic methods meet systematic cask experiments and curated finishes.
Raw Materials and Production
Woodford Reserve works with a well-defined core recipe (72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley) and a strong focus on ingredients and process. Water for production is sourced on-site and naturally filtered through limestone beds, iron-free and mineral-rich. The fermentation is unusually long and utilizes a special yeast strain to create depth and complexity. The distillation combines batching from pot stills and column stills, yielding a balanced final product. On-site cooperage means the casks are crafted, toasted and charred on site, with production run in small batches emphasizing detail and quality.
Maturation and Barrel Types
The core whiskey matures in new, heavily charred white oak barrels that the distillery itself produces. On-site cooperage ensures control over toast and charring levels, and the finishing takes place in the distillery's heat-cycled warehouse. In addition to the standard cask influence, Woodford Reserve systematically experiments with finishes in special casks: XO Cognac finish (Baccarat Edition), Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir finishes, as well as Madeira and brandy finishes (Master’s Collection and Distillery Series). The Double Oaked concept uses a secondary, deeply toasted and lightly charred barrel for extra sweetness and wood character.
Whiskies
The portfolio ranges from the classic Kentucky Straight Bourbon and core expressions (Double Oaked, Malt, Rye, Wheat) to experimental and limited lines such as Distillery Series, Master’s Collection, Batch Proof and Personal Selection. There are also special releases and commemorative bottles tied to the Kentucky Derby partnership, as well as prestige releases such as Baccarat Edition. The lineup covers both classic bourbon presentations and modern barrel finishes, appealing to both traditional and curious flavor explorers.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Barrel and Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bourbon Whiskey (Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey) | Bourbon | 45.2 % | New, charred, white oak barrels | Core expression: balanced Kentucky Straight Bourbon with over 200 detectable flavor notes, built on the distillery's classic mash bill and aging in new, charred white oak barrels.; Nose: dried fruit, mint and orange with a dusting of cocoa; light vanilla and tobacco spice; Taste: Rich, bold and rounded with citrus, cinnamon and cocoa; toffee, caramel and spice; Finish: Silky and warming with a long finish | Current; Core range |
| Double Oaked | Bourbon (Double oaked) | 45.2 % | Secondary custom, deeply toasted and lightly charred new oak barrel; finish: Second barrel is deeply toasted and lightly charred | A two-finish expression where the whiskey matures first in a new charred oak and then in a deeply toasted secondary barrel for extra soft, sweet oak notes.; Nose: Dark fruit, caramel, honey, chocolate, marzipan and roasted oak; Taste: Vanilla, dark caramel, nuts, apple and spices; Finish: Long and creamy with honey-apple notes | Current; Core range |
| Double Double Oaked | Bourbon (Double oaked, extended) | 45.2 % | Second custom-crafted deeply toasted and lightly charred barrel; finish: Extended secondary maturation in a deeply toasted and lightly charred barrel | An extra rich double-finish effect with extended maturation in a secondary custom barrel for greater depth and complexity.; Nose: Maple, butterscotch, caramel, bittersweet chocolate, burnt marshmallow and sweet hickory-smoke; Taste: Dried cherries, blackberries, tea-spice and cloves; Finish: Warm and drying with lingering clove character | Current |
| Batch Proof | Bourbon (Barrel proof edition) | 59.75 % | New charred white oak (same as core range’s casks); finish: Bottled at barrel proof (straight from the barrel/actual proof) | A series where aged casks are blended and the bottle remains at the actual barrel strength; 2025 edition is 119.5 proof.; Nose: Expressions of Woodford Reserve's signature with intensified vanilla and toasted oak; Taste: Concentrated version of the standard profile; intense oak and vanilla expression | Limited |
| Baccarat Edition | American Whiskey (Cognac cask finish / prestige expression) | 45.2 % | XO Cognac barrels (select); finish: Cognac cask finish; used XO cognac barrels that have seen three seasons of cognac before filling | Prestige in a Baccarat decanter, finished in selected XO Cognac casks to combine American bourbon and French Cognac character.; Nose: Toasted oak, chocolate, vanilla and dried fruits with spice; Taste: Vanilla, dark chocolate, dried fruit and creamy caramel; Finish: Velvety with delicate spiced caramel mocha note | Limited |
| Kentucky Derby® Bottle (2026 commemorative) | Commemorative Bourbon bottle (art edition) | Annual commemorative Derby bottle with original artwork; 2026 edition honors the 152nd running with design by Anna Murphy. | Limited | ||
| Malt Whiskey | Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey | 45.2 % | New, charred, white oak barrels | A malt-focused whiskey composed of 51% malt and aged in new, charred white oak barrels, designed for bourbon lovers seeking malt character with American oak influence.; Nose: Nutty notes with caramel and milk chocolate, fruit (apple, dried fruit, tropical), brown spice and mint; Taste: Dark chocolate, caramelized nuts, fruit and lightly roasted coconut; Finish: Nutty and subtly sweet | Current; Core range |
| Rye Whiskey | Rye | 45.2 % | New, charred, white oak barrels | A Rye whiskey built on a historic mash bill (53% rye) that emphasizes spice and tobacco as dominant notes in an otherwise balanced aroma palette.; Nose: Peppery and spicy rye, black pepper, cedar and cassia bark with marzipan sweetness and hints of pear/apple; Taste: Spice, cloves, mint, molasses and honey with fruit tones; Finish: Long and pleasantly spiced | Current; Core range |
| Wheat Whiskey | Wheat Whiskey | 45.2 % | New, charred, white oak barrels | A historically inspired wheat recipe fronted by wheat, designed to be fruit- and floral-focused along with Woodford Reserve's balance.; Nose: Spiced apple/pear/banana with delicate floral character and vanilla; Taste: Apple compote, roasted coconut, mint and cacao nibs; Finish: Dry with subtle cocoa tones and lingering apple | Current; Core range |
| Distillery Series Toasted Oak Four Grain | Blended (finish in toasted oak) | 45.2 % | Heavy toasted new oak (finish); finish: Start in standard new oak; finish in heavy toasted new oak | A Distillery Series release where Woodford blends bourbon, rye and wheat and gives a finish in toasted oak; only available in limited quantities at the distillery and selected Kentucky retailers.; Nose: Marzipan, honey, brown sugar and toasted oak; Taste: Toasted oak with maple and butterscotch; Finish: Crisp and subtly sweet | Limited; Limited / only at the distillery and selected Kentucky retailers |
| Distillery Series (Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Finish) | Bourbon with wine finish | 45.2 % | Hand-selected Cabernet Sauvignon barrels (finish); finish: Finish in Cabernet Sauvignon finish to combine bourbon's character with dark fruit notes from the wine | A series of limited, cask-experimental releases blending Woodford's bourbon character with finishes in wine and other special casks. | Limited |
| Master’s Collection Sonoma Triple Finish | Bourbon (multi-finish) | 45.2 % | Pinot Noir barrels, Brandy barrels, and former Bourbon barrels used to age red wine; finish: Triple finish in various Sonoma County finishes | A Master’s Collection expression finished in three types of Sonoma finishes to create a fruit- and vanilla-driven experience; inspired by earlier barrel finish experiments.; Nose: Vanilla, cinnamon, grilled pineapple and red plums; Taste: Red wine fruit, vanilla and oak; Finish: Long oak and red wine tannins | Limited |
| Personal Selection | Bourbon (110 proof hand-selected) | 55 % | Program where the Master Distiller has hand-crafted three different flavor profiles, and where the consumer can choose a personalized edition bottled at 110 proof. | Current | |
| Wheat Whiskey Bottled In Bond | Wheat Whiskey (Bottled in Bond); Distillery Series | 50 % | Bonded warehouse maturation (standard new oak); finish: Aged in bonded warehouse and bottled at 100 proof | A Distillery Series release where one season’s wheat whiskey is aged in a bonded warehouse and bottled at 100 proof.; Nose: Roasted whole-grain bread with apple butter; Taste: Delicate apple butter and dried berry compote; Finish: Long with dried berry fruit | Limited; Limited / Distillery Series |
Whiskies’ Style and Flavor Profile
Across the portfolio, three recurring flavor directions emerge: fruity notes (both fresh and dried fruit), sweet malt sweetness and caramel/vanilla, and a pronounced oak and toast character. The rye expressions add a spicy, peppery element, while the malt and wheat variants often bring nutty and floral tones. The combination of long fermentation, hybrid distillation, and targeted cask treatment creates this broad yet cohesive flavor profile.
Visiting the Distillery
The distillery offers public tours where you can explore the history of bourbon, gain insight into the five sources of flavor (grain, water, fermentation, distillation and maturation), and stroll through the historic barrelhouse along Glenn’s Creek. On-site there is the option to book tours, and guided tours are a central part of the visitor experience. Visits typically include information on site history and production methods, as well as access to selected parts of the facilities.
Philosophy and Craft
Woodford Reserve emphasizes quality through attention to detail, small-batch craftsmanship, and a balance between tradition and science. The distillery’s stated approach is a combination of time, patience, science and art, where the cask is viewed as an active ingredient and where on-site cooperage enables precise control over toast and charring.
Sustainability
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98% of waste materials are recycled throughout operations.
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10 acres of the property dedicated to restoring native grasses.
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97% of food waste is composted on-site.
Awards and Recognitions
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Double Gold (2023, Double Gold, Double Oaked)
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Double Gold (2023, Double Gold, Bourbon Whiskey)
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Gold Medal (2020, Gold, Rye Whiskey)