Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Select American Oak Bourbon

Nose: Peach flan, dusted with brown and cinnamon sugar, warm from the oven, slightly caramelized and topped with fresh vanilla cream. A cup of strong black coffee with hazelnut syrup on the side. An apple pie with almonds and cloves is still baking. The farmhouse kitchen is filled with old but recently polished oak furniture. Palate: Nutty and buttery upon first taste – pecans, fresh walnuts, and popcorn. The spiced stone fruits from the nose reappear as it develops, along with caramel, vanilla, and lightly astringent oak tannins that lean towards dark bitter chocolate in the finish. The texture is pleasant – coating the mouth and silky, yet with a mild tannic grip. Finish: Medium to long. Nutty, spicy, and oaky. My experience with Woodford Reserve whiskies is somewhat limited because the full range of expressions isn't available where I am, so I've primarily tried the standard release, the Double Oaked, and the exceptional 125.8 proof Masters Collection bottling. I enjoyed all of those, so when I saw the Woodford Reserve display at the Whisky Show, and specifically some of the tall, round Masters Collection bottles, I made sure to visit it during my afternoon. Woodford Reserve was showcasing a small selection of expressions I hadn't encountered before, including this one. I had assumed all the Masters Collection bottles were high proof, which turns out not to be the case, but the whiskies were impressive. This particular one was especially enjoyable with an accessible character that was only slightly hampered by being a bit out of balance. While a whiskey is specifically designed to highlight oak casks, it might seem overly critical to call it too oaky, but... it is. Just a little bit. The price also varies considerably in my region. I've seen it priced as high as $250, as low as $160, and it typically sits around $200. Even at the lowest price point, it's nearly three times the cost of the WR core-range straight bourbon. I don't penalize a score based solely on price, but considering the core-range bottling offers nearly the same strength and is excellent in its own right, it's challenging to recommend this one. Tasted at the Sydney Whisky Show, May 15, 2021, my tasting #13 'Good': 84/100 (3.75 stars)

The aroma is fruity and woody. Very strong oak presence, I appreciate the distinct Ozark oak flavor along with tannins, nuttiness, dark chocolate, and cloves. The finish provides a very smooth equilibrium of sweet and tannic notes.

Excessively oaky, like gnawing on a piece of white oak. Avoid purchasing; I can hardly believe it's available. This spirit detracts from the Woodford reputation, and at $99, it's definitely a 0/5!

Smells of caramel, apple, glue, vanilla. Extremely complex (though I have also tasted 5 whiskies prior to this). Tastes like a dessert wine. The flavor intensifies after a sip. Potent.

I don't consider it waste since I purchased it. But each time I try it with optimism, I'm further let down. Disagreeable on the senses and the tongue.

Fruity on the aroma. Some malt as well. Tastes young, but not harsh. Smooths out towards the end, velvety. The young note holds this back. 2/1/19