Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Seasoned Oak Finish Bourbon Whiskey (700ml)

Woodford Reserve is one of the newer brands of Bourbon even though its home is one of Kentucky's oldest distilleries. The base bourbon - that familiar, understated, square bottle you can find almost anywhere - is a favourite for many, but a new series known as the "Master's Collection" aims to deliver a truly unique Bourbon experience. The fourth of these limited edition bottlings was released on the 1st of November in 2009. Named the 'Seasoned Oak Finish', other bottlings from the collection include 'Four Grain', 'Sonoma-Cutrer Finish' and 'Sweet Mash'. The point of difference in this release? As the only Bourbon distillery that crafts its own barrels, Woodford can maintain complete control over the production process. In the company's own words, "...the highest quality barrels have a degree of "seasoning" to their wood prior to cooperage; seasoning is the natural drying process that actually changes the wood by reducing tannins (that create astringency) and creating a range of new flavour compounds. Typical seasoning for Bourbon barrel staves is three to five months; for the Master's Collection Seasoned Oak Finish we've taken fully matured Woodford Reserve Bourbon and "finish aged" it in barrels made from staves seasoned between 3.5 and 5 years! The longest such seasoning known in the industry, the re-barreling resulting in a Bourbon of amazing depth and complexity..."

Bottled at 50.2% Alc./Vol. Stocks are extremely limited.

Other reviews... The fourth in the series of limited-edition bottlings, and one of the better ones. The impact on the whiskey of finishing in barrels made with staves that have been seasoned three to five years really is evident here. There’s plenty of wood spice, and I think it goes well with the sweet pot still characteristics. On the nose, the flavors are nicely intertwined. But on the palate, the sweeter notes (caramel, nutty toffee, fig, ripe berries, black cherry) appear first, with the dry, spicy notes (cinnamon, clove, cocoa powder, vanilla, polished leather, maduro tobacco) building to a firmly dry finish. Perhaps the dryness on the finish overstays its welcome more than I would like. But still, this is a solid effort -- and quite distinctive! 50.2% 88 points - www.maltadvocate.com (Vol. 19, #1) Reviewed by: John Hansellsize>