The nose jars you immediately with ethanol, not a good sign - this whiskey is young. Underneath the kitchen chemical there's some grassy, hay notes. On the palate it's initially sweet - but unsophisticated. Huge alcohol burn after, Sight hints of honey and green things (and, strangely, bubblegum on the nose just before the liquid hits the palate). Finish is dry and slightly bitter (bitter melon?) with eventual fruity gum note. Honestly, I can't see how this is so far from a typical Single Malt Whisky profile. It's 100% malted barley, aged in refill barrels. It's not just the youth - there's just a lack of sophistication here. Had the producers ever had single malt whisky?
Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Classic Malt
About this bottle
The Master Collection is Woodford Reserve's limited edition "experimental" series that often plays with different mashbills and/or cask finishes. In this case, they decided to take a cue from Scotland and produce a 100% malted barley. Like much Scotch, this one is aged in used bourbon barrels.
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 11 parsed reviews.
Pretty smooth single malt but lacking in deep complexity. Pretty much a peaty up front flavor with a slight honey finish.
Smooth taste. Honey like finish. Truly unique. Good for a sipping bourbon
Creamy entry, transitioned to Black pepper, oak finish
Butterscotch palate transition to Spice finish
Great flavor with a smooth palet
5 more reviews were collected for this bottle. The longest ones are shown first.
Tastes like this
Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.