Woodford Reserve

“Some whiskeys exist to be savored; mediocre ones exist to make you appreciate the good stuff.” – Unknown

Woodford Reserve distillery is a beautiful place. Some might even say idyllic. Nestled in the low rolling hills of Kentucky’s bourbon and horse country near the town of Versailles, it rests on the oldest active distilling site in the commonwealth (since 1812). I love its pristine, lush, green grounds surrounded by Kentucky’s signature black fences. It is also designated a National Historic Landmark. One feels kind of in awe of the place when you are there.

The large, whitewashed Visitor’s Center was re-vamped in 2019. It features a very nice retail shop where you can purchase anything Woodford Reserve-y, including their whiskeys. There’s also a lovely and pricey (of course) cocktail bar and high-end snack shop called the Glenn’s Creek Cafe. Other than that, one needs reservations for any tours or tastings. I visited in shorts and a T-shirt and felt like I should’ve been wearing a suit – seersucker, perhaps.

Let’s move on to the booze. Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select (their “regular” stuff) is one of the best-selling ‘super premium’ American whiskeys. Jim Beam and Elijah Craig have more sales, but they are lower-end bourbons. Brown-Forman sells around 1.8 million cases of the stuff per year. This translates to around 350 to 450 million dollars a year in annual sales. Popular stuff! Their other “flagship” bourbon is their Double Oaked, which is a huge seller in its own right.

Both of these whiskies are obviously good (notice I didn’t say “solidly” – progress). The Distiller’s Select tastes like bourbon (duh), slightly sweet, with pleasant oakiness. And the Double oaked kicks it up a notch with intensified oak flavors, sweetness, and a little smokiness.

Yet … let’s remember our discernment lesson.

I’m sitting at my desk right now at two o’clock in the afternoon sipping on a little Distiller’s Select. It’s been a long time since I’ve tried it neat. Research is tough, but I do it for you. It isn’t remarkable. It’s just bourbon. Great mixer though. Later tonight when I pour something that I really want to enjoy, am I going to reach for this again? Resoundingly, no.

However, all is not lost when it comes to this distillery. Enter the Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Batch Proof Bourbon and the Distiller’s Select Barrel Strength Rye. These two beauties are outstanding!

The Master’s Collection was first released in 2018, and those original bottles on the secondary market are quite pricey today. New offerings have been released every year since (pricey as well). I have already gone through a couple of bottles of this wonderful stuff. The current bottle on my shelf is the 2023 release that is 124.7 proof. The latest 2025* version retails for about $180. Not cheap. Yet, worth every cent!

This stuff has great legs – viscosity that you can see on the sides of your Glencairn. The taste profile is wonderful, with notes of nuts, toffee, and cocoa. The finish? Extraordinary, with lingering hints of vanilla and espresso, and then the nearly 125 proof burn! Delightful! Now here’s a bourbon worth sipping on.

The Barrel Strength Rye is even better. This stuff runs about $130 a bottle. Secret: you can get it at a big place that rhymes with “Roscoe” for under $100. Usually a high-proof rye such as this would be a palate destroyer. Not in this case. This lovely whiskey is smooth with a delicate sweetness. Same viscosity as the bourbon, with a decadent palate of baking spices, orange, and tobacco. The finish is prolonged with notes of citrus and ongoing heat of the rye and high-proof.

There is a third from the Master’s Collection that is incredibly good. I hate to mention it because it is very expensive and difficult to find. However, it is so unusual, rich, and decadently delicious that it bears a little discussion: The Master’s Collection Chocolate Malted Rye. Rye whiskey, good! Chocolate, good! This stuff is like a Hershey’s chocolate bar melted into a fine whiskey. Outrageously wonderful stuff! Again, good luck finding it. If you do, it will cost you anywhere from $200 to $400. If you can find it for $200, it’s worth it in my humble opinion.

Over the past few years these three amazing whiskies have re-established my faith in Woodford Reserve. I know they’re pricey, but I highly recommend them. Who knows, one or both might even end up on my all-time favorite whiskies list. Coming (fairly) soon. Also, a trip to Woodford Distillery would be a wonderful experience. If you’re in the area, don’t pass it up.

In fact, I need to plan a trip to Bourbon Country. It’s been a while.

Until next time, cheers!

*The 2026 hasn’t been released yet.

Jon Smyrnis is a lifelong Indianapolis area resident. He enjoys traveling, hiking, biking, kayaking, dining out, and, of course, fine cocktails and great bourbons.