Tasting Note: Woodford Reserve Review

Woodford Reserve is a small batch bourbon whiskey, every bottle is individually numbered with batch and bottle identification. Originally distilled as far back as 1812, Woodford Reserve is considered a “hand crafted” whiskey and will probably cost a bit more money than a mid-tier whiskey.

Smell: Almost a tequila-like smell, brine, sea salts without too much sweetness. Very muted in whiskey-like bouquet.

Taste: Very smooth on the palate, medium body with hints of oak, slight burnt rubber and a bright “cold” burn more akin to a mint cold (without the mint flavor). Clean finish.

Cost: The “small batch” labeling may be what drives the price up to roughly USD $29.99. The price shows this whiskey as a higher end product than a USD $12 whiskey, but the price might be a bit too steep for the small story the taste is telling.

Combined Rating:

  • Smell: 3.0/5.0
  • Taste: 3.0/5.0
  • Cost: 3.0/5.0
  • End Score: 3.0/5.0

Summary: Not as potent as the Knob Creek bourbon but similar in overall qualities. While it doesn’t bring a ton of burn it also doesn’t bring a whole lot of complex flavors for the price. If Woodford Reserve was USD $7 less, it would be a much more worthwhile purchase for those looking to upgrade from a Jim Beam quality whiskey.

Watch our Whiskey Blind Tasting Now.

February 28, 2010 by Derrick Schommer
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Filed Under: Bourbon Whiskey, Tasting Notes, blog

  • salttl1000r

    I agree, the original Woodford was actually Old Forester, until the “Reserve” was aged. To me Woodford is a pure Marketing brand, I would take Makers over Woodford but not by much. If you watch the review, the findings speak for themselves. I taste oak, minimal sugar and blandness. Alot of other reviews list vanilla and spice as tasting notes and on the nose, for me this didn't happen. Give me Evan Williams Sour Mash over Woodford any day.

  • http://everydaydrinkers.tv Derrick Schommer

    This was a brand I was told was good by one of our viewers. I think, in a whiskey sour, all current reviewed whiskey's are very serviceable and fun in a sour. But, when it comes down to what you're paying for and the versatility, it just falls short. I didn't want it to.

    I think most reviewers just say “vanilla and spice” since it's just so common in these, since the oak is so prominent. Usually with oak you can get vanilla or a vanilla bean with smooth butters. To me, those qualities are very high on the “no duh” factor :)

    Of course, if you didn't get it and you like those flavor profiles, this is a total pass!

  • Dead River

    salttl1000r inspired me to do a blinded taste test since I have both Woodford Reserve and Evan Williams in the house. I added Elijah Craig.

    Results:
    Elijah Craig
    Smell: 4/5
    Taste: 3/5
    $22

    Woodford Reserve
    Smell: 2/5
    Taste: 4/5
    $29.99

    Evan Williams
    Smell: 3/5
    Taste: 3/5
    $14.50

    I agree that Woodford Reserve is overpriced though I did like its complex taste. I really like Elijah Craig which comes from the same distillery as Evan Williams.

  • Dead River

    Here is another blinded taste test.

    Old Whiskey River
    Smell: 3.5/5
    Taste: 4/5
    about $24
    86 proof

    George Dickel No.12
    Smell: 3/5
    Taste: 4/5
    $23-26
    90 proof

    Wild Turkey Rare Breed
    Smell: 4/5
    Taste: 5/5
    $37
    108.2 proof

    I went into this thinking George Dickel No. 12 was my favorite. Then I did an open label test against Elijah Craig and liked the Wild Turkey Rare Breed more.

  • Dead River

    I just did an open label taste test:

    Old Whiskey River (6 year, 86 proof)
    my choice

    Evan Williams (regular black label, 86 proof)
    more burn later on

    W. L. Weller (7 years, 90 proof)
    more burn at first

    Then I tried adding a drop of Peychaud's bitters and honestly could not tell a difference.

  • Nathanj37

    Terrible review.

    When I’m gauging the quality of a whiskey taster I always turn to their Woodford review and scan it for the word “toffee.” If I don’t see that, the reviewer has no idea what they’re talking about. Toffee is the predominant taste note of Woodford, followed by rye. The toffee comes from the accelerated aging process they use (they cycle the temp in the barrelhouse, creating an age about 4 times that of the actual age), and the rye comes from the mashbill used in Woodford (much richer in rye than the typical bourbon).

    What do I know? I just live in Woodford county…

  • http://everydaydrinkers.tv Derrick Schommer

    Sorry you didn’t like it. Personally, I’d never judge a review by a single key word, that’s also a terrible way to judge something like a text review :)

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