Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Straight Malt

I received this from a friend who didn't plan to open it and wanted to make space for whiskies he preferred. That makes sense; it's better than paying the full price. The initial smell was not very inviting. There's a somewhat unpleasant character that's hard to pinpoint, but I often notice it in American single malts, particularly younger ones. Perhaps it's a sign of young malt whisky. It's definitely present, and if you look closer, you can find very sweet notes of cereal and praline. The palate is quite sweet, featuring salted caramel, milk chocolate, candied pecans, peaches (especially at the end), baking spices, and even a biscuity element. The peach flavor at the end of the palate persists. The texture is pleasantly rich and smooth, without excessive alcohol burn. Overall, I enjoyed it, but it's likely not worth its high suggested retail price. The distillery does produce quality spirits, but a significant portion of the cost here is for the brand name and the perceived rarity of the limited "Master's Collection" release. However, if a friend offers it to you at a clearance price, it's hard to fault.

New to bourbon tasting, but I've enjoyed this one. It's not overly sweet and the burn isn't too intense. I'm drinking it neat.

It has a bit of a bite and rough edges. Adding water smoothed it out. There's a bitter finish. Not great.

Reminds me of banana bread. A natural banana taste, but enjoyable.

This is among the top-tier Woodford Reserve whiskeys.

Discovered this unexpectedly in Alpharetta, Georgia, with a companion.