Woodford Reserve Rye

I'm going to admit a dirty little secret - I've been on a cocktail kick lately. For shame. But seriously, I needed to find a handful of good rye whiskies to make some decent Manhattans and Old Fashioneds out of. The problem is, neat or otherwise, I typically despise rye whiskey. I love rich, sweet bourbons and oaky whiskies and hate spice and the inherently "licorice-y" flavor some of these ryes give off. But here I was at my local Total Wine, at their Rye Whiskey section. Something I'd never thought I'd do. A random side question ~ why are green labels inherently the color of choice for distilleries when they bottle their rye selections? I picked out three and of course, always the glutton for self punishment; I will be trying all three neat. Starting with Woodford's entry into the rye category. Spicy fruit comes to mind on the nose. Peppercorn, cinnamon, cedar and candied orange rinds make the nose wrinkle a bit. But if you hang in there, some cherry flows with caramel and cocoa at the end. The palate opens lightly spicy but mint chocolate swirls in the background with an interesting rich sweetness I didn't expect from a rye. Quite tannic oak comes into play with the bitter orange rind that was found on the nose and the taste goes decidedly Rye whiskey. Grassy and herbaceous for sure at the end of the the taste transitioning toward finish. The finish carries that tannic oak straight through. Dry is the word - tobacco, cinnamon spice and grass remind you that this is indeed a rye whiskey. Even if there was a peek of sweet chocolate on that palate. I'm still not sure if I am a rye whiskey guy neat. However, I cannot argue that a good old fashioned and Manhattan need something spicier, more full bodied and bolder to cut through the bitters. As far as rye whiskies go I'm sure Woodford is one of the better ones but I'm just going to give it a middle of the pack 2.75

Wow! Ok... Ever since I got on the Bourbon kick a couple years ago, to pass the time during Covid's apex, I thought I did not like rye in the mash bill. But I found there were some "high rye" bourbons that I actually enjoyed (Elijah Craig, 1792, etc.). So I decided to broaden my whiskey horizons and try some Rye.... I didn't want some crazy 95% rye option like Bulleit (who's bourbons I don't like — and the primary reason I thought I would not like rye), and went with what could be considered a "low-rye Rye". At 53% rye, this one seemed perfect. I love it. Not only did I find it a good "bridge" between Rye and Bourbon, but it's really just plain good. I get butterscotch on the nose as well as some bourbon-esque leathery traits. The palate is sweet and not overly-spicy, as I'd always expected a Rye whiskey to be. Just the right amount of spice. But I DID catch some things that set it apart from all the bourbons I've had: Herbal flavors and a different kind of spice. The expert review mentioned "malted milk chocolate". I totally got that, as well. There's a richness to this that coats the tongue nicely, and the finish is very nice, indeed, and reminiscent of some high rye bourbons I've tasted. This is a winner, and it gives me hope for further successful Rye adventures. Perhaps Elijah Craig, with its 51% rye mash bill could be a possible follow-up...

This has been a reliable choice for me in bars for years—it’s about time I get around to it. Nose: Cotton candy and vanilla. Toffee. It’s buttery. Apple and cherry. Dill. Lemon pepper. Black licorice. Almond and walnut. Clove, nutmeg, black pepper, and oak. Palate: Black pepper, clove, and nutmeg. Vanilla and toffee. Cinnamon Apple Jack’s. Dill on the back end. Almond and walnut. Banana walnut muffin. Caramel. Cinnamon. Brown sugar. Finish: Walnut and pistachio. Clove, nutmeg, and white pepper. Brown sugar. Cinnamon. Oak. Toffee and vanilla. Rye bread and popcorn kernel. Pink cotton candy. Moderate length. Solid stuff. This competes with Michter’s for the best of the starter level ryes—although at $40, this sort of straddles the line between entry level and mid-shelf. This doesn’t stand out or have any remarkably interesting notes like a Willett 4 year or a Col E.H. Taylor BiB. But it is incredibly balanced and is a strong representative of the American rye profile. I think this a fine effort for a low-midshelf offering. It was worth the $40 ticket for entry, and I’m glad to have nabbed this one. This compares more so with the Woodford Double Oaked than the the standard Bourbon. Nice stuff. Good place to start a rye newbie but also respectable enough for an experienced sipper. 3.75/5.

Unfortunately, the appeal of this distillery’s offerings is lost on me. Having tried numerous expressions, I simply don’t get it. In fact, aside from the Double Oaked Bourbon, I can pass on them all. And even then, I find Old Forester’s 1910 far superior. I mean no disrespect; based on the following they have, it’s clear they’ve gotten it right for many folks, I’m just not one of them. Even so, we decided to include their rye, along with 11 others, in a rye whiskey tasting event last weekend. But as you’ve guessed from the above statements, it didn’t fair that well. It’s not a bad whiskey, it just isn’t that interesting either. I personally get very few of the tasting notes others mention in their reviews, although, that’s nothing uncommon. If I’m being honest, most of the time, I either like something, or I don’t. Sorta pass / fail. Anyway, this is just okay to me. Typical “whiskey” nose, very little rye spice on the palate, and a short dry finish. Possibly a good place to start, if you’re just getting into ryes. But if you’re already in the club, I think there are far better options.

As is so often the case with Rye, this dram is quite spicy. But unlike a lot of ryes this is very well balanced. The nose is very floral and sweet in addition to that spice. There’s even some fruity notes hidden underneath. The palate on the other hand is very rich, and has a light tobacco note and some herbal qualities as well. A little molasses maybe as well, accounting for a gentle sweetness. Overall, it’s a damn good rye, one of my favorites in fact. And it’s approachable, even for those who don’t typically like rye whiskey’s as much.

A delightful balance of spice and sweetness that lands this on the spectrum of Rye’s that bourbon fans will find very approachable and exciting. The full-bodied, oaky character is center stage while the complex, dark sweetness and earthy spices compliment one another. The lasting, warm aftertaste is pleasant and showcases the sweeter and softer notes. Woodford Reserve has thoughtfully crafted this bottle at an attainable price that argues to be kept as a regular sipper in the cabinet.