Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Very Fine Rare Bourbon

Nose: Oak, molasses, and a touch of vanilla. Big dark chocolate character - think 90%+ bars. Smoke and char, Virginia/Perique pipe tobacco in the tin. Clove and nutmeg. Figs, red apples, and some toasted black pepper. Just a hint of orange oil perfuming throughout, along with a touch of floral notes. While a big selling point here is the inclusion of older stocks, there's a good whack of sweet dusty corn and wintergreen in here. Kix and Corn Pops type sweetness. The blending here is, frankly, pretty artful. A great example of using oak and age to provide density and body, instead of relying on proof. Palate: While oak is a dominating note on the nose, it takes over on the palate even more. Char and smoke are definitely more up front. Molasses and vanilla are also evident, but again that oak doesn't give them much room. Clove and nutmeg alongside some good tannin content - the bitterness is here but in a more balanced fashion than I'd normally expect. The dark chocolate has pulled back considerably, revealing more of that new leather sense you get when walking through those stores in Florence. Dark fruits - figs, blueberries, raisins, prunes. Fresh ground black pepper this time around. And again, dusty corn is here. Mid and back palate focused, with a lot of midrange and some top end. I do wish there was more richness and depth, something that often only really comes as a result of proof. Medium mouthfeel with a drying quality. Finish: A blast of charred oak, black pepper, and that molasses come is. Fresh vanilla beans and cream - youre making crème anglaise but with a bit more vanilla than you're supposed to. The black pepper falls away, and on top of the oak some nugmeg shows up, along with star anise and apples. Almost like making hot cider and then drinking it chilles. This hangs out and gives you a medium long finish, with that dark chocolate coming in at the tail end, with that bitterness providing balance and contrast. Other notes: The level of execution here is impressive. Another great entry into the ranks of "bourbon with its pinky out", the blending here is artful. While touting some highly aged stocks (though without saying how much), I'm more struck by the overall balance this has. The combination of high oak with enough sweetness and traditional Woodford distillery character keeps this more than interesting. And doing so at a sub-100 proof point should be appluaded. I do wish there was more dark brown sugar density, but I certainly don't fault this on that metric. I try to avoid comparisons between distilleries but this fits a similar niche as the Wild Turkey Master's Keep Decades. Is this something for the proof hounds? No. Nor is it a vanilla bomb, and while there's plenty of oak character on tap this does not get into, say, Balcones territory. Instead this shows what's possible when you take folks with great palates, deep knowledge of available stocks, and a desire to execute a blend at a particularly high level. While I can't easily suggest getting a full bottle of this, I can easily recommend trying a glass. Or getting some of your friends to chip in on a full bottle together. Althouygh I have to admit I'm very glad I pulled the trigger here. Maybe you will be, too. Cheers!

Nose: The nose is heavy but well balanced and is packed full of baking aromas - pecan pie, cherry cobbler, treacle tart, cornbread, toasty oak and dark chocolate cake. There’s a reminiscence of smoke, like tobacco in an old leather pouch and a note that is almost like a sherry cask (nah, surely not). Very satisfying. Palate: Good arrival – full bodied, creamy, oily oak and big fruit flavours. Vanilla and dark honey in the development with some well managed oak tannin and spice notes, but nothing is bright or gaudy about this palate. It is magisterial and assured, but not boastful. The mouthfeel is exquisitely rounded. Finish: Medium/long. The dense woody fruit character tails off into brown sugar. A very well balanced profile that leans towards the oaky side of things, but not disarmingly so. There is an elegant and mature sweetness to the palate. I enjoyed this a lot. It comes on full-throttle but does not overwhelm and there is a charming gentle side to it as well. For me the proof is right on target and well chosen to showcase the style. Do NOT add water – it actively spoils this first-class bourbon. Expensive, but worth it. “Very Good” : 86/100 (4 stars)

Oaky and bitter dried green apple nose. Little orange. Caramel. Palate is a little thin and disappointing. Bitter and oaky again on the palate. Slight cherry with green apple coming still. Finish is pretty short. Overall I’m a bit disappointed. This is the most expensive bottle I’ve bought and it’s not worth the price. It may be worth keeping on the shelf just to have some older bourbon, but it’s not my favorite. I may give it another shot but will probably trade it. I use the rating scale below. Distiller uses a scale of 5 and I use a scale of 10, but I’m sure you’re not too drunk to do the math! 1. Disgusting - So bad I poured it out. 2. Poor - I wouldn't consume by choice. 3. Bad - Multiple flaws. 4. Below average - Not bad, but many things I'd rather have. 5. Good - Just average. 6. Very Good - Better than average. 7. Great - Well above average. 8. Excellent - In a league of its own. 9. Incredible - An all-time favorite. 10. Perfect

Nose - Toffee, brown sugar, light dried berries, grain, pine and juniper, heavy rye spice Palate - Strong bitter oak, grainy and dusty rye spice, brown sugar, light toffee, very dry and tannic. Long oily finish with bitter tannic oak and hint of burnt sugar. Tried this at Alley Twenty Six during their Whiskey Wednesday where pours of the chosen whiskey are at cost. I'm glad I got to try this here instead of buying a bottle for $130. It is horribly overpriced, I'd rather drink standard Woodford Reserve. At some point bourbon is overaged and over-oaked, this is a prime example.

N: vanilla, allspice, cinnamon, light cherry, barrel char and light oak T: cinnamon, light woodiness, walnut, dark chocolate H: light O: a well balanced drink from start to finish. Nothing is blaring or bold. On the woody side of taste profile, with just a hint of chocolatey char of a double-oaked, without the candy-bar sweetness. The age is apparent, but oak does not dominate. Reminds me a bit of Kentucky spirit, with a bit extra flavor.

Nose: typical woodford sweetness. I do think I get some nice oak on the nose too! Lots of vanilla Palate: very very tame palate. Lots and lots of oak and vanilla. Honestly similar to a good double oaked private pick with not as much bite. Finish: malty, sweet, oaky as well. Overall: not super amazing. Just as good as a great double oaked private pick I think. Definitely not worth the price so this will be my only bottle of this