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American

Woodford Reserve Blended Rye

OVERALL
RATING

8

Whiskey Review: Woodford Reserve Blended Rye

Tasting Notes:

About:
Appearance:
Nose:
Cooked and dried fruit predominates here, evoking pears cooked in sweet sherry, or an apple pie with raisins. There’s a major, faintly dusty wood note here, too: picture those desserts on an unfinished pine plank in a wood shop.
Palate:
More orchard fruit, together with some black pepper and allspice, and some honey sweetness. The dusty wood/cardboard note is here, too, but it’s softer. Medium-bodied, with a long, pleasant finish heavy on spice, with more wood coming through after a moment. . This is an intriguing, off-the-beaten-path expression from Woodford Reserve, definitely worth trying if you can get your hands on it. Sending User Review 0 (0 votes) Buy A Bottle Share: XFacebookLinkedInEmail Drinks Aizome Island – Tropical Style Minor Cobbler Strawberry Rhubarb Julep Crimson & Clover Club Wynken, Blynken, & Nog Related Articles Whiskey Review: Wheel Horse Cigar Blend Bourbon Editor’s Note: The Whiskey Wash… READ ARTICLE ? about Whiskey Review: Wheel Horse Cigar Blend Bourbon Bourbon / Reviews Whiskey Review: Highline Triple Rye Whiskey Editor’s Note: This whiskey was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whiskey Review: Highline Triple Rye Whiskey American / Reviews Whiskey Review: Savage & Cooke American Whiskey Editor’s Note: This whiskey was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whiskey Review: Savage & Cooke American Whiskey American / Reviews Whisky Review: Bruichladdich Octomore 14.3 Editor’s Note: This whisky was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whisky Review: Bruichladdich Octomore 14.3 Reviews / Scotch Whisky Review: Glenglassaugh 12 Years Old Editor’s Note: This whisky was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whisky Review: Glenglassaugh 12 Years Old Reviews / Scotch Whiskey Review: Highline American Whiskey Editor’s Note: This whiskey was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whiskey Review: Highline American Whiskey American / Reviews Whiskey Review: Savage & Cooke Rye Whiskey Editor’s Note: This whiskey was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whiskey Review: Savage & Cooke Rye Whiskey American / Reviews Whisky Review: Bruichladdich Octomore 14.2 Editor’s Note: This whisky was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whisky Review: Bruichladdich Octomore 14.2 Reviews / Scotch Whisky Review: Glenglassaugh Sandend Editor’s Note: This whisky was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whisky Review: Glenglassaugh Sandend Reviews / Scotch Whiskey Review: Highline Straight Kentucky Whiskey Editor’s Note: This whiskey was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whiskey Review: Highline Straight Kentucky Whiskey American / Reviews Katelyn Best Katelyn is a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon. She’s a regular contributor to the Whiskey Wash with an affinity for the unique and weird side of whiskey. More by Katelyn Best Follow us on Twitter Find us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram Connect with on on LinkedIn About Advertise Subscribe Editorial Standards Privacy Policy Terms of Use
Finish:
Comments:
This is an elegant, well-executed rye that’s plenty sippable on its own, but would be lovely paired with a fruit dessert. It definitely leans into fruit, and while it’s got plenty of spice, it’s not hot or peppery, and sits easily on the palate. This is an intriguing, off-the-beaten-path expression from Woodford Reserve, definitely worth trying if you can get your hands on it.

Woodford Reserve, along with their standard bourbon and rye expressions and their yearly, rotating Master’s Collection whiskeys (the most recent of which I got the chance to try this past November), also produces an eclectic line of limited-release expressions called the Distillery Series. These range from a four-malt whiskey, to several experiments in barrel type, to a “sweet mash bourbon” made—as the name suggests—with a non-soured mash.

These expressions are a fun departure from the usual big-name American distillery fare, and a nod in the direction of a growing taste for experimentation on the part of the average whiskey drinker, fostered by the craft distillery boom. There’s nothing here that’s quite as freaky as what we get from places like St. George or Corsair, but they’re proof that even within the constraints of non-freakiness, there’s plenty of room for growth.

Woodford Reserve Blended Rye is a blend of two rye whiskeys: One a 100%-rye expression aged in used bourbon barrels, the other a 53% rye, 33% corn, 14% malt straight rye whiskey aged, in the traditional fashion, in new barrels. The 100% rye expression seems, based on a press release, to have been aged 13 years, but it’s not clear how old the straight rye is. There’s no word on how much of each whiskey went into the blend.

Woodford Reserve Blended Rye

Tasting Notes: Woodford Reserve Blended Rye

Vital stats: Two mashbills, one 53% rye, 33% corn, 14% malted barley, the other 100% rye, in undisclosed proportions. No age statement (but see above). Bottled at 90.4 proof. Available only at the distillery and “select Kentucky retailers.”

Color: Amber

Nose: Cooked and dried fruit predominates here, evoking pears cooked in sweet sherry, or an apple pie with raisins. There’s a major, faintly dusty wood note here, too: picture those desserts on an unfinished pine plank in a wood shop.

Palate: More orchard fruit, together with some black pepper and allspice, and some honey sweetness. The dusty wood/cardboard note is here, too, but it’s softer. Medium-bodied, with a long, pleasant finish heavy on spice, with more wood coming through after a moment.

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