Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Straight Malt

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Straight Malt

Official bottling 
Single malt - Kentucky
Copper
45.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry shortcake, bananas, chalk, iron filings, aluminium foil, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, loosens, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Cooked rice, bananas, strawberry shortcake, honey, brown paper, white pepper, cloves, chalk. 
Finish: Short. Cooked rice, bananas, brown paper, chalk, hints of white pepper. 

Comments: 

Sweet and luscious, but with a chalky note that reminds me of freshly painted walls. Lots of bananas and cereal too. Interesting and innovative.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection - 1838 Style White Corn

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection - 1838 Style White Corn

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
45.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, brown paper, digestive biscuits, lemon zest, honey, golden syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, expands, warm. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cornflakes, digestive biscuits, honey, desiccated coconut, glacé cherries, candied oranges, white pepper. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, white pepper, desiccated coconut, glacé cherries. 

Comments: 

Spicy and biscuity, this corn bourbon is also rich and luscious. Lots of fruit alongside those cereal notes, all budding tot a bitter fragrant finish. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection- Brandy Cask Finish

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection- Brandy Cask Finish 

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky 
Dark amber
45.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, cornflakes, toast, sesame, red grapes, orange peel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, thickens slightly, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange peel, butter, honey, mint, vanilla, raisins, caramel, hints of brown paper. 
Finish: Short. Rolled oats, chocolate, toast, black tea, raisins, hints of sesame. 

Comments: 

Well finished bourbon. The brandy cask gives it a sweeter, luscious feel, almost buttery and fruity. Yet the equally sweet notes of the grain are evident and clear.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection - Select American Oak

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection - Select American Oak 

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky 
Amber red 

45.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Plums, vanilla, brown paper, magic marker, black tea, hints of cooked rice. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, slightly tingly, slightly fizzy, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Pear drops, brown paper, cornflakes, vanilla, maraschino cherries, hints of cooked rice. 
Finish: Medium. Toast, plums, black tea, maraschino cherries, pear drops, hints of coffee. 

Comments: 

Quite cereally, this bourbon. But that’s underneath, indeed almost buried under layers of sweet fruit and pear drops. The wood influence is quite strong, as one might expect, but it’s quite delicious. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection - Cherry Wood Smoked Barley

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection - Cherry Wood Smoked Barley

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber, hints of red
45.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Corn syrup, cornbread, bananas, apple rings, strawberries, toast. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Cornbread, honey, maple syrup, strawberries, apple rings, cola bottles, toast. 
Finish: Short. Apple rings, cola bottles, coffee, toast, hints of pear drops. 

Comments: 

My first Woodford Reserve in more than a decade. It’s rather nice, sweet and fruity, with just a whisper of smoke. The cereal is very obvious, but I think they should have smoked the mash a bit more. The fruitiness deserves something to cut it.

Verdict:

I like this.

Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select

Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
45.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, peaches, glue, sea coconut, butter, milk, almonds, hints of bananas. With water, turns plummy, saltier, like Chinese preserved sour plums .
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sweet sour. Brown paper, glue, sea coconut, almonds, butter, cream, hints of magic marker. With water, turns sweet salty, then Chinese sour plums again.
Finish: Short. Brown paper, cream, almonds.

Comments:

Batch 54, bottle #4852. Nutty, something chemical in the nose that fades in the mouth. Lovely notes of sea coconut, something which I haven't tasted in all too long. Not too bananary, this bourbon, quite complex with lots of interesting flavours, especially with water. Huge hits of brown paper wrapping the whole thing up.

Verdict:

I like this.