Woodford Reserve

Woodford Reserve, a bourbon distillery in Versailles (Kentucky)

Woodford Reserve is a whiskey brand whose distillery is located in Versailles, Kentucky, at a site designated a National Historic Landmark where, according to the company itself, bourbon was first produced in 1812. The brand belongs to Brown-Forman and its production is presented as craft-style, in small batches, a method the company describes as decisive for developing the five flavor profiles of bourbon and achieving a distinctive taste and a clean finish.

Production and flavor profile

The company maintains that its process makes it possible to work with the five sources of bourbon flavor. In the case of its Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the brand states that its balanced profile brings together more than 200 detectable flavor notes, including bold grain and wood, sweet aromatics, spice, and fruity and floral nuances.

Whiskey range

The range includes several expressions with different recipes and maturation methods:

• Bourbon Whiskey: Kentucky Straight Bourbon, presented as the house's signature expression.
• Double Oaked: twice-barreled bourbon, matured in separately charred oak barrels; the second barrel is deeply toasted before receiving a light charring, which imparts a softer, sweeter oak character.
• Malt Whiskey: Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey made with 51% malt and aged in new charred oak barrels, with a rich, complex profile that accentuates nutty notes.
• Rye Whiskey: rye whiskey with a 53% rye proportion in its mash bill, inspired by pre-Prohibition recipes; spice and tobacco dominate over fruity, floral, and sweet notes.
• Wheat Whiskey: made with wheat as the dominant grain (52%), followed by malt (20%), corn (20%), and rye (8%), with fruity and floral flavors.

Special editions and collections

The brand markets limited releases and collector series. The Distillery Series brings together unique limited-run expressions; among them, one finished in hand-selected Cabernet Sauvignon barrels has been announced, continuing the house's line of experimentation under the leadership of Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall. The Baccarat Edition is presented as the brand's most sophisticated expression: a Kentucky Bourbon finished in select XO Cognac barrels, chosen by Master Distiller Chris Morris, each having previously held cognac for three seasons. The Master's Collection corresponds to annual releases; the 2024 edition, led by Elizabeth McCall, experimented with finishing the bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskies in Madeira barrels from the Madeira Islands, resulting in whiskies with a fruity profile. According to the company's own description, its barrel-finishing philosophy seeks to accentuate attributes already present in its whiskies, not to add or change flavors.

The distillery and visits

Cocktails and consumer content

The brand shares recipes for classic and seasonal cocktails, including the Old Fashioned, described as a classic American cocktail with a long history, as well as the Kentucky Mule, the Bourbon Porch Swing, and the Mint Julep. It also maintains a line of content on lifestyle, gifting, and its connection to the Kentucky Derby, for which it markets commemorative bottles, including the Kentucky Derby 150: Baccarat Edition. The company also offers a personal selection program and a collection called The Flavor Note Collection.

Sales and distribution

The products can be purchased through the brand's online store and located at retail locations via its store finder. The company also sells gift items under the name Shop Woodford Reserve.

Location and contact

7785 McCracken Pike, Versailles, KY 40383