2015 Four Roses Small Batch Barrel Strength, Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Details Surface

One of the great things whiskey bloggers have as a tool to keep track of upcoming American releases is the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s TTB database of liquor bottle label approvals. Not all of these bottlings you see approved may make it to market for one reason or another, but it is reasonable to expect most will. It is fun in particular to see what the big boys of bourbon have planned, with some interesting new expressions just unveiled that will likely be forthcoming from Four Roses and Woodford Reserve.

Woodford Reserve, according to a label filing approved April 21, will be adding to its Master’s Collection for 2015 something called 1838 Style White Corn. Master’s Collection, for those unfamiliar with it, is a limited edition bottling the distillery releases each year that experiments with “a variety of grain recipes, fermentation styles and maturation processes to create a range of unique whiskeys.” Their newest offering will be bottled at 90.4 proof.

Perhaps the bigger news, at least to Four Roses fans, is word of the 2015 formula for the limited edition, small batch barrel strength release from this bourbon operation. Bottled at 55.9% ABV, the recipes in this blend include: OBSK – 16 years; OESK – 15 years; OESK – 14 years and OBSV – 11 years.

In notes on the bottle, Four Roses describes this release as

Three of our exquisite, perfectly-aged Bourbon recipes have been mingled together to create a spirit that gently teases you with ripe cherry, caramel custard and fresh magnolia aromas. Spicy cinnamon and clove flavors give way to subtle tastes of orange peel, apricot and light honey. And the long, velvety finish rewards you with lingering hints of creamy vanilla fresh spearmint.

There was no mention in these filings when these two unique whiskies would be released, or price points. Most likely I would expect both of them in the fall bourbon rush cycle though.