In 2015, seven trees were felled in Kylebeg Wood on the Ballykilcavan Estate in Co. Laois, Ireland, and were coopered into custom barrels for this fourth release. Distiller: Woodford Reserve Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 15% Chocolate Malted Rye, 15% Malted Barley Cask: New Charred Oak Age: NAS ABV: 45.2% Price: $130* Tasting Notes EYE Oaky brown NOSE Chocolate covered cherries, wax, orange peel, wood, leather, nutmeg, vanilla and nuts. unicode-range: U+0102-0103, U+0110-0111, U+0128-0129, U+0168-0169, U+01A0-01A1, U+01AF-01B0, U+1EA0-1EF9, U+20AB; Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey is an enjoyable whiskey not so much for any individual piece, but for what the product delivers as a whole. For those not familiar with Woodford Reserves Masters Collection, it started in 2006 as a way for the Master Distiller, Chris Morris, to experiment with single adjustments to Woodfords products to see what happens. Please check your entries and try again. font-display: swap; Kevin O'Gorman, Midleton's master distiller, created the fourth release in this ground-breaking series by finishing aged single pot still Irish whiskeys in virgin Irish oak hogsheads that were coopered from seven oak trees felled in Ireland's Kylebeg Wood. Enjoy! Appearance: This is a coppery amber in color. What is our narrative? Take a sip and the palate expands into rich toasted nut and cocoa notes, with some caramel, banana and, as expected from the name, rich, dark stout beer flavors. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon is distinguished by a high rye (18%) mash bill and a long (six day) fermentation. /* greek */ ModernThirst has compiled one of the most comprehensive compilations of bourbon and whiskey mash bill recipes on the net. Some of the big whisky websites are funded by corporate groups. Kentuckys New Riff likewise tinkered with the concept via their Winter Whiskey, which used small portions of dark-roasted malt in a mash bill that still technically qualified as bourbon. } Distillation is done in a trio of pot stills; the mature whiskey is incorporated into the finished product after being blended with additional column still output from the Brown-Forman distillery, home of Old Forester. font-stretch: 100%; We review an experimental release from Woodford Reserve inspired by the flavors of stout beer. adds two new straight bourbon blends to its lineup. High West is rolling out its High Country single malt nationally after debuting it in 2019. I had almost no preconceptions going into the tasting, other than mildly positive associations with the Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey. . Additionally, its smart on Woodfords part as a large majority of their competition comes in around the $40-$50+ range. It is their Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey. src: url(/fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensans/v34/memvYaGs126MiZpBA-UvWbX2vVnXBbObj2OVTSymu1aB.woff2) format('woff2'); Scotsman Dr. James Crow arrived on the scene in 1820, becoming a distillery employee for the next three decades. } Shake egg white in cocktail shaker. unicode-range: U+1F00-1FFF; . .wp-review-35834.review-wrapper { font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; }. As with its 2020 predecessor, this year's edition was finished in spent Adirondack oak casks that were seasoned by outdoor air, in this case for 42 months. Whiskey just before distillation is known as distillers beer. To be called that it has to have at least 51 % malt, the rest of the mash bill is mostly corn with a little bit of Rye. If you can come up with a substantive criticism of anything Ive written rather than just whining about my negativity, imaginary bias, and cynicism, I am happy to engage with you. font-stretch: 100%; unicode-range: U+0100-024F, U+0259, U+1E00-1EFF, U+2020, U+20A0-20AB, U+20AD-20CF, U+2113, U+2C60-2C7F, U+A720-A7FF; Presented at 45.2% ABV. Not only do you show up day after day to indulge us by reading our rambling, quixotic, or ill-tempered musings, but you engage. font-display: swap; @font-face { These changes include adjustments to the mash bill, what the whiskeys are aged or finished in, and even additions of, . The best music, movies, TV, books, comedy and more. This trend has made its way to Woodford Reserve for their Fall 2021 release of the Masters Collection, a five-malt stouted mash whiskey. There is a touch of oak and vanilla as well. To learn more about responsible consumption, please visit Responsibility.org and Our Thinking About Drinking. font-weight: 700; Im glad WRs preposterous one-dimensionality claim didnt seem to bias Jason against this whiskey; I certainly am aggravated by it, and I like WR whiskeys. font-family: 'Open Sans'; unicode-range: U+0370-03FF; font-stretch: 100%; It is called an American Straight Malt Whiskey which means that it is matured for at least two years in charred new oak. Each year, Woodford Reserve celebrates the Kentucky Derby, also known as "The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports", by launching a commemorative bottle featuring exquisite artwork. One unique aspect of rye whiskey is that it must be made from a mash bill of at least 51% rye grain, giving it its signature flavor. Please be responsible. In aprevious story Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall said: The malt whiskey will feature a uniquely balanced mash bill of 51% malted barley, 47% cornand 2% rye. Woodford produced two bottles of malt whiskey, of which was the Classic Malt, the other (called Straight Malt) used the same mash bill but was matured for longer in new charred oak casks. Tasting Notes: Woodford Reserve Five-Malt Stouted Mash Vital Stats: 45.2% ABV, MSRP $130 for 750ml. font-stretch: 100%; font-style: normal; font-display: swap; That brief but ardent rant aside: to my knowledge, Woodford Reserve has never been reviewed here on MALT. Cheers and GO BLUE! src: url(/fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensans/v34/memvYaGs126MiZpBA-UvWbX2vVnXBbObj2OVTSumu1aB.woff2) format('woff2'); Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Bottled in Bond Bourbon, Lifting the shroud on malted corn bourbon with Frey Ranch's Co-Founder Colby Frey, The definitive guide on how to drink bourbon. There are plenty of craft whiskeys inspired by beer, or made by brewers who've become distillers, and now Woodford is getting into the act. Bardstown Bourbon Origin Bottled-in-Bond - Aged six years and distilled from a mash of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley, a recipe not showcased in Fusion since its infancy ( #1 and #2). font-stretch: 100%; Each batch of Snowflake starts out as Stranahan's American single malt aged between four and eight years in new white American oak barrels with a no. If you want to read more about whiskeys made from beer, pick up the Fall issue of Whisky Advocate, where we highlight eight examples. Nice review Taylor. font-style: normal; Bourbon is never the right price in the U.K though. Here is a partial list of mash bills . Today Talking Bourbon is tasting a relatively new offering from the Woodford Reserve Distillery. Location Produced: Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, Kentucky Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malt Aroma (from manufacturer): Rich notes of dark fruit, caramel, sharp honey, chocolate, marzipan and toasted oak Taste (from manufacturer): A full-bodied mix of vanilla, dark caramel, hazelnut, apple, fruit and spices. unicode-range: U+0590-05FF, U+200C-2010, U+20AA, U+25CC, U+FB1D-FB4F; Nose: This smells like a brewery, just tons of processed grain on the nose. Hints of brown spice, savory mint and brown sugar mingle with a rich note of freshly milled toasted oak. Style: Blend of straight bourbonsOrigin: Indiana, Kentucky, TennesseeAge: Not statedABV: 56.77%Price: $500Release: December 2021Availability: Limited; 5,100 bottles. Saying malt whisky gives the impression of Scotch. (In the same forest just over six years later, healthy oak saplings now grow around the tree stumps.) By definition, wheat whiskey must have a mash bill of at least 51% wheat. This combination of grains gives the distillery series bourbon its signature profile of floral and fruit notes. /* greek */ /* latin-ext */ I will say I think this one is worth checking out, especially if you enjoy the flavors of stouts or you like other whiskeys distilled from actual beer. src: url(/fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensans/v34/memvYaGs126MiZpBA-UvWbX2vVnXBbObj2OVTSKmu0SC55K5gw.woff2) format('woff2'); font-family: 'Open Sans'; Add Woodford Reserve bourbon, simple syrup, lemon juice and shake vigorously. Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach Kylebeg Wood, Style: Single pot stillOrigin: IrelandAge: Not statedABV: 55.4%-56.1%Price: $340Release: Stock will arrive in U.S. starting January 2022Availability: Trees 1-7 available in limited quantities. A sale to a pair of businessmen in 1878 saw the distillery re-christened Labrot and Graham after the new buyers. Distillery: Woodford Reserve (Brown-Forman) City: Versailles, KY Style: Straight malt whiskey ABV: 45.2 percent (90.4 proof) Availability: 750 ml bottles, $35-40 MSRP Jim Vorel is a Paste. On the other hand, malt whiskey only needs a minimum of 51% malted barley, and to qualify as straight, they need to be maturedfor a minimum of two years. Its very peppery on the front of the tongue with deep cherry flavors towards the back. src: url(/fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensans/v34/memvYaGs126MiZpBA-UvWbX2vVnXBbObj2OVTSGmu0SC55K5gw.woff2) format('woff2'); The whiskeys include the light, medium, and heavier styles of pot still whiskey produced at Midleton. font-stretch: 100%; When High West debuted High Country in December 2019, the whiskey was sold only in Utah. font-style: normal; There are coffee notes of espresso lingering around the periphery. It reminds me of toasted multigrain bread. Produced using a mash-bill of 53% rye, this rye shows off its spice up front and balances it well with notes of fresh fruit (think pear and cherry), chopped mint and a sweet touch of honey. Aside from the different ratios in the recipe, it gets the same treatment as their bourbons in every other way, including aging in new, charred American oak casks. In May 2018, Woodford Reserve Straight Malt whiskey was released as part of Woodfords permanent lineup. On the palate, this is very malty, nutty and stout-like once again. Its got some awkward parts through the nose and the mouth, however, including the aforementioned juvenile wood flavors as well as some rather pointed cask influence towards the rear of the tongue. They use column stills. . This results in a tremendously refined and smooth tasting bourbon whiskey. } All Rights Reserved. font-style: normal; /* vietnamese */ Distillery: Woodford Reserve City: Versailles, KY Style: American malt whiskey ABV: 45.2% (90.4 proof) Availability: Limited, 750 ml bottles, $130 MSRP Jim Vorel is a Paste staff writer. Id give it a go in a bar though. it has to be at least 51% of the mash bill. font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; As I typed that, I realized that 1996 is a blip if youre, say, a geologist but is effectively an eternity ago in whiskey terms. Its presence is a disappointment as it brings down what could be a really enjoyable palate. font-family: 'Open Sans'; The nuttiness in particular is quite strong and assertive even at the relatively lower proof, bringing with it tons of chocolate and roastvery cocoa hazelnut spread in character. I typically find WR whiskeys to be astringent (which I like) rather than bitter (which I dont), but theres plenty of taste and/or batch variance to push it one way or the other. font-stretch: 100%; Read on for full details. font-stretch: 100%; font-stretch: 100%; unicode-range: U+0590-05FF, U+200C-2010, U+20AA, U+25CC, U+FB1D-FB4F; Expect this one to show more barrel character than your typical American single maltcertainly more so than any of Stranahan's other releases. font-display: swap; Barrell Gold Label Bourbon @font-face { font-weight: 400; It's mostly made using malted barley but does not bring flavors associated with a Scotch whisky. } } It is aged in new charred oak barrels. It's thick, spicy, chocolatey and a bit oaky. We thank them for allowing us to review it with no strings attached. Old Fashioned: A classic American cocktail with a great history. } Quickly gains complexity, with graham crackers, macerated cherries, ripe stone fruit, salted chips (crisps), chicken broth, and the smoky and sweet meaty aromas of slow-cooked barbecue. font-display: swap; You know what? font-style: normal; font-style: normal; unicode-range: U+0000-00FF, U+0131, U+0152-0153, U+02BB-02BC, U+02C6, U+02DA, U+02DC, U+2000-206F, U+2074, U+20AC, U+2122, U+2191, U+2193, U+2212, U+2215, U+FEFF, U+FFFD; /* hebrew */ @font-face { #1 Online Liquor Store. Barrell spent two years blending and developing this whiskey, which comes from four collections of barrels all aged 16 and 17 years: cherry-forward barrels, nutty oak-forward barrels, high proof barrels, and barrels with pronounced milk chocolate notes, which underwent a secondary maturation in toasted virgin American oak casks. font-display: swap; Get the latest whiskey news and reviews to your inbox, Whiskey Review: Watershed Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey, Whiskey Review: Square 6 High Rye Whiskey, The Epicurean Adds Amarone Finish Edition To Wood Series Bottlings, Whiskey Review: Pursuit United Oak Collection Blended Straight Rye Whiskey, Whiskey Review: Redwood Empire Grizzly Beast Batch 2, Kentucky Derby Museums Secretariat Bourbon Box Set Available In A Lottery, Whiskey Review: Laws Whiskey House Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon Batch 2, Walsh Whiskey Releases The Irishman Vintage Cask 2023 Edition, Whiskey Review: Hard Truth Distilling Caramel Malt Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey, Midleton Very Rare Launches 2023 Irish Whiskey Vintage. Triple pot distilled, 750 ml bottle MSRP of $35-40. At midpalate, this has a sweet and syrupy crescendo before becoming astringent with a woody bitterness toward the back of the mouth. And on that level, I dont know how you could argue that this is anything less than a successIve had a few stout-inspired whiskeys, but certainly none of them were this specifically stout-like. Ive written before about my love of recommendations, even when I cant remember where they came from. Begin typing your search above and press return to search. /* greek-ext */ Please give us a call prior to visiting with any questions. Taking into account the flavors delivered, and its overall quality, this ends up translating into a good value for the consumer. /* latin-ext */ font-weight: 700; Like the first batch, this releases is highly limited. Taylor is Chicago-born but received his whisky education in Scotland and Japan, before returning home to embrace bourbon and American whiskey. This is honestly one of the most purely chocolate-forward whiskeys Ive ever tasted, in factalmost a bit indelicately so, wielding the theme like a hammer. /* greek-ext */ font-weight: 700; /* greek-ext */ @font-face { Then, the distilled spirit needs to be aged for at least two years in charred new oak barrels, most often American white oak. The 23rd batch of this annual limited single malt is named per tradition after a Colorado Mountain peaking over 14,000 feet, otherwise known as a 14er. The whiskey is finished in a combination of calvados, applejack, muscatel, and cabernet casks. Introduced in 1996, Woodford Reserve is a brand of whiskey produced by the Brown-Forman company, a family owned private business that is one of the largest producers of whiskey in the United States. @font-face { December 1, 2021 Ted Simmons, , , , Woodford Reserve Master's Collection: Five-Malt Stouted Mash, Style: Straight maltOrigin: KentuckyAge: Not statedABV: 45.2%Price: $130Release: December 2021Availability: Limited. src: url(/fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensans/v34/memvYaGs126MiZpBA-UvWbX2vVnXBbObj2OVTSGmu1aB.woff2) format('woff2'); Woodford Reserve has a mash bill made up of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley. They share historical roots, as both stout and malt whiskey in particular have birthplaces in the U.K., and they likewise share roasty flavor notes derived in both cases from the liberal application of heat in either the malting or barrel charring process. On the nose, the Five-Malt Stouted Mash strikes an interesting balance between musty, almost husky grain notes, some earthiness and then tones of characteristics that will no doubt make the drinker think stout. The cereal grain notes are pronounced, but so are elements of dark chocolate, roasted nuts and coffee. The American Oak blend's bold notes of vanilla and caramel arise from the secondary addition of highly charred white oak introduced toward the end of maturation. No burn. All major bourbon distilleries are in.. But what about effectively trying to channel the flavors of stout in whiskey, via the use of roasted brewers malts? font-family: 'Open Sans'; It's gift giving season, and if you're looking for something special for the whisky lover in your life, we've got you covered. This gives the perception, real or otherwise, that this is a good value. Its priced right, will be readily available, and it stands out from Woodfords other products. @font-face { font-style: normal; @font-face { Dark chocolate and caramel coated nuts are dried out with a dusting of cocoa powder and brown spice. Woodford Reserve, though, has officially gone all in on stout via this newest release, the 17th in the Woodford Reserve Masters Collection. Seriously Theon, why do you use words like cowards? If you feel so strongly about this site why do you bother to read it? unicode-range: U+0370-03FF; Flavors of biscuit, toffee, and barley are present and complemented by a slight bitter citrus quality that reminds me of hops. Shop Online Today! ), Style: Blend of straight bourbonsOrigin: Tennessee and IndianaAge: 15 year oldABV: 49.5%Price: $225Release: November 2021Availability: Limited. font-style: normal; Tap to explore the unique flavor breakdowns of each Woodford Reserve expression. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. It sounds pretty good for the right price. I f Woodford Reserve Five-Malt Stouted Mash sounds less like the name of a whiskey and more like the name of a beer, that's kind of the point. Woodford Reserve Master's Collection No. After deciding not to release a Snowflake expression last year, Stranahan's comes back with two in 2021 and is celebrating the occasion. @font-face { } The corn and wheat are reportedly locally sourced in Kentucky. font-family: 'Open Sans'; Style: Flavored whiskeyOrigin: PennsylvaniaAge: Not statedABV: 40%Price: $45Release: December 2021Availability: Limited; 2,000 bottles available at the distillery and online to PA residents. font-family: 'Open Sans'; @font-face { container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails', Quality has remained relatively good despite rapid growth (+23% in each of the years ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, after +18% in 2017), with wide distribution making the expression a go-to for bar-hopping bourbon drinkers finding themselves in more sparsely-provisioned environs. It all began with a simple quest for whiskey information to host a better whiskey tasting. 2XO Oak Series American Oak Straight Bourbon. font-display: swap; src: url(/fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensans/v34/memvYaGs126MiZpBA-UvWbX2vVnXBbObj2OVTS2mu0SC55K5gw.woff2) format('woff2'); It is based on mash bill #1, so the amount of amaranth averages 10 percent and is found only in E.H. Taylor, Jr. Amaranth Grain of the Gods. font-weight: 700; It tastes like Im chewing on candied malted barley. With the exception of the hotness of the palate, the rest of sip is well balanced. font-display: swap; Distillery: Woodford Reserve City: Versailles, KY Style: American malt whiskey ABV: 45.2% (90.4 proof) Availability: Limited, 750 ml bottles, $130 MSRP. font-weight: 700; . Bottlings from the company also include Dexter straight bourbon, Paddle Wheel bourbon, and Paddle Wheel rye, among others. Buy Online. font-stretch: 100%; font-stretch: 100%; Like a wedding DJ, I am here to make the people happy. font-style: normal; Give us the scoop, Theon, Ive always kept away from Woodford, thinking it was a sourced bottom shelf brand. The rest is down to you, our faithful readers. src: url(/fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensans/v34/memvYaGs126MiZpBA-UvWbX2vVnXBbObj2OVTS2mu0SC55K5gw.woff2) format('woff2'); Style: Single maltOrigin: UtahAge: Not statedABV: 44%Price: $80Release: December 2021Availability: Nationwide. font-display: swap; Just over 3,000 bottles of the latest The Vaults whiskey are available, making it a bit harder to find than last year's edition. It should also be noted that by clicking the buylink towards the bottom of this review our site receives a small referral payment whichhelps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs. . 17 Five-Malt Stouted Mash will feature five malted grains bottled at the brand's traditional 90.4 proof. Initially released in very limited quantities this past January, it now expands its availability to four states. src: url(/fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensans/v34/memvYaGs126MiZpBA-UvWbX2vVnXBbObj2OVTSKmu0SC55K5gw.woff2) format('woff2'); Please be responsible. Maker's Mark 46 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750ml Maker's Mark 46 was created by Bill Samuels, Jr., to amplify the flavors he loves in Maker's Mark. B+ / $45. font-display: swap; Actually, we don't know that this rye whiskey mash bill was developed specifically for Woodford (or even made at Woodford's distillery). The goal with this release was to really push the flavor profile toward what you expect from beer. unicode-range: U+0370-03FF; They are innovating in this space, I think this should be on every bourbon geeks must-try list. I think this review was thorough and accurate. font-style: normal; What makes this different from what most people think of beer is, generally speaking, the lack of hops.