Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Historic Barrel Entry

Wow. Whenever I enter a small, independent liquor store on impulse and find a bottle from a special collection I haven't tried yet, you know it's going to be a good experience. There's an intriguing blend of different aromas on the nose, but it's just a bit challenging to identify them clearly as they seem to arrive all at once. I'm detecting notes of vanilla buttercream and baking spices like cinnamon. The nose then transitions to hazelnut and dark cocoa powder with just a hint of herbal mint at the end. The taste is as fascinating and diverse as the aroma. Light, creamy caramel candy is complemented by some banana pudding to start sweet. The flavor becomes much drier midway, with leather, baking spices, and herbaceous mint taking the lead. The drying sensation carries through to the finish with charred oak, leather, and just a tiny touch of a citrus tang. But due to the dryness of the accompanying notes, it's more akin to orange rind than freshly squeezed orange juice. Frankly, I believe this makes a fine bourbon. It seems the average rating is considerably lower here than for most of that brand's special collection, but I think its distinctiveness and flavor are compelling enough to strongly encourage you to try it sometime.

The aroma is excellent; vanilla cream, barley, old musty books, nutmeg, clove, sarsaparilla, and sweet oak. Way more ethanol than there should be for 90 proof, but the complexity and appeal make it a forgivable sin. The taste doesn’t match the aroma well but is interesting in its own right. Tea leaf, tobacco, leather, cinnamon, apple, generic citrus zest, and rye spice. Tastes more like an American single malt than a bourbon. Flavors are so rich and bold you’d think this was 110+ proof. Nicely complex. The finish is wonderful bringing nice sweet notes to contrast and balance the tannic taste; vanilla extract, cake frosting, hazelnut, green peppercorn, and toasted oak. Mouthfeel is airy yet velvety and elevates everything to another level. Turns super dry after the flavors fade. Ok, this bourbon is bullshit, “Wait, it sounds like you liked it!” And there’s the rub; I DO like it. I paid well over MSRP at $199 for this (fomo) but even at $130 retail, there’s no reason this should cost as much as it does. In the $60-$80 range? Man, I’d be buying it all the time. North of $130? A one-time novelty. Sure is tasty, though.

A low and sweet caramel/molasses nose, with some higher wood character. On the palate, the wood is quite apparent, with a substantial amount of oak dominating the level of char. Flavors are precise and consistent with a traditional bourbon; no surprises here. Yet, a very deep flavor that seems as if this is at least bottled-in-bond proof, and yet it is barely above 45% ABV. The body is medium and the finish is medium-long with a hint of spice and cinnamon at the end. A strong and focused whiskey.

What an aroma and I actually get a little banana on the taste. For 90 proof there is lots of oak and flavor. The finish does have some oak and bitterness or char which is interesting but a bit sour. Wish this had an age statement or a reference to how much longer it was aged to see if it was really the lower entry proof or more time in the barrel. I only have a store pick for regular Woodford so it’s completely different.

This has a rich, unusual nose. I was pleasantly surprised by how good this is on the palate. The richness gives way to sweetness and wood notes. I don't feel any heat from this (90.4 proof). Short to medium length finish. Overall: an interesting, good whiskey. Not worth the money$$$.

Wow, what a letdown. The flavor is so diluted, a real disappointment considering the price. Steer clear if you appreciate full-bodied bourbon and whiskey; this isn't it!