Woodford Reserve question

[Treeguy]

Hello,

I came across a supply of Woodford Reserve at a nearby booze store and was wondering what y'all thought of it. I've only heard of it mentioned once and no nothing about it. It's priced in the premium range, $45 for a 750ml bottle, same as Knob Creek. (Just FYI, Quebec is the black hole of bourbons. The selection here is usually very poor.)

My taste leans towards Wild Tukey, Bookers, Knob Creek, and fermented gasoline. I tend to shy away from the lighter, sweeter bourbons.

Any opinions of the Woodford Reserve would be most appreciated.

Thanks.

[Treeguy]

Never mind. I found the BOTM thread about WR and the comments were not great.

I'll pass.

[Gillman]

Woodford is a full-flavored bourbon, in the area of 5-6 years old. It is a mingling of bourbon made in small pot stills, the more traditional type of still (also used to make French Cognac and Scots malt whisky), and the larger, more efficient column still which is in the industry norm.

Some people consider that Woodford has a "grainy" or "metallic" taste which derives from the pot still element. I enjoy it occasionally and like some here, I find each bottle tends to be a little different. Bourbon cannot be duplicated 100% each time because it is a result partly of natural and changing conditions. No two barrels will impart the exact same wood taste, for example.

It isn't inexpensive but I'd say it is worth the price especially in a market where bourbon selection is weak. Usually Jack Daniels Single Barrel is available in such markets and that too is a good buy, of course Jack is not bourbon but Tennessee whiskey, a related type.

Gary

[Treeguy]

Hey Gary,

Thanks for the feedback. I'll consider the bottle, but I'm apt to pass on it. I'm sure it's good, but the problem is everything (advertising) I've read about it since I posted said it's Great!, but the people here say it's just good or ok. Hard for me to spend $45 on a bottle that I'm likely to be disappointed with. I'd rather put that $45 towards a bottle I'm sure of.

I paid $50 for a bottle of Ewan Williams Single barrel a few months back and was very disappointed. Far too light and sweet for my taste. My buddy bought one as well and had the same opinion. I don't want to "waste" another $50 on an unsure product.

Thanks. Enjoy your Saturday.

[MJL]

I consider Woodford Reserve to be a solid. excellent product. In this area the 1.75ml bottle is found as low as $49 and as high as $79. I like Woodford so much I keep a bottle around all the time. An excellent replacement or adjunct to Woodford is Old Forester. If you like Old Forester you will certainly like Woodford Reserve.

[cowdery]

I like WR, but based on the products you like, there is a good chance you won't like it. It's made to be a little softer, a little milder. It is closer to Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve than it is to Wild Turkey 101. That's why it has been so successful, because it is easy to drink, but somebody more accustomed to and preferring bolder and more robust flavor might very well find it bland.

[MJL]

Is it possible to like the mineral, metallic toned down tastes of Bourbons like Woodford Reserve and Makers Mark and at the same time very much enjoy a vibrant fiery Rye Whiskey or the burn of a gulp of Wild Turkey 101 proof? Am I odd in that I seem to like them all? hmm? I like quality no matter how it comes to me. I can see the beauty in the hand work of a master distiller no matter what whiskey is being made.

[spun_cookie]

The short answer is yes. I like the nice smooth quality of the PVWs, the Wellers and some others and then the reach up and grab you bourbons like Stagg, 2007 B-Day bourbon.

The Wild Turkeys play this role for me as well.

I have given up on Woodsford, Basil Hayden, FR Small Batch, and MM, but also Parker and Bookers. So you can judge for yourself.

[Treeguy]

Spoke to my buddy last night, a guy with twenty-years of bourbon lifting experience, and tastes similar to miy own, and he said he had tried the WR and found it "Uh, it was ok." At $45 a bottle, I need a stronger reccomendation than that.

Too bad, really. Was looking forward to something unusually tasty.

The quest continues.

[cowdery]

The real tragedy is that Canada's socialist liquor agencies don't bring in enough genuinely different American whiskeys to give you poor folks a decent selection. My best advice is, visit Chicago or, better yet, Kentucky. It's all here for you.

[BourbonJoe]

The real tragedy is that Canada's socialist liquor agencies don't bring in enough genuinely different American whiskeys to give you poor folks a decent selection.

Neither do Pennsylvania's socialist liquor agencies.

Joe :usflag:

[ThomasH]

Hey Joe,

Check out the Pa. liquor control website. They list Beams new Ri 1 as Ri 1 rye bourbon, it is listed as 80 proof and is in the bourbon section. Not only are they socialists, they must be crackheads too!

Thomas

[smokinjoe]

Spoke to my buddy last night, a guy with twenty-years of bourbon lifting experience, and tastes similar to miy own, and he said he had tried the WR and found it "Uh, it was ok." At $45 a bottle, I need a stronger reccomendation than that.

Too bad, really. Was looking forward to something unusually tasty.

The quest continues.

I think you hit on something when you say: " Was looking forward to something unusually tasty." To me, a basic hack, when it comes to picking out bourbons in a blind tasting, WR is one that I think I'm pretty sure I could nail. Because it is "unusual". I don't think any other bourbon has anywhere near it's taste profile. And, I find it tasty, too. I like it's difference. You might, as well. Maybe, go for a mini before investing in the big bottle?

If I could give one piece of advice to anyone contemplating trying a new bourbon, it would be this...Don't listen to what other's say regarding "Good" or "Bad" in a whiskey. It's all opinion. You, are the ultimate judge on what is good or bad, for you. And, you'll never know, unless you try.

Cheers:

[MJL]

Joe,

I cannot disagree with the wisdom of your answer. I think you hit the nail on the head. I like some Bourbons that seem to be looked down upon here but so be it. In the end it is my penny and my mouth so I will drink what I like. Still, I think the collected wisdom of this site speaks volumes and ought not to be neglected when considering a choice.

[Luna56]

WR is not bad whiskey, but there isn't a lot going on with it. I usually drink it if I'm on a plane, never have bought it. I did have some at a friend's awhile back, though, and found that it benefitted greatly by allowing it a lot of time in the glass, say a half hour or more. I'm not usually that patient.

Good luck.

Cheers!

P.S.- I'm with MJL, and, while I have my favorites, each favorite is distinct from the others. Try everything!

[cowdery]

Hey Joe,

Check out the Pa. liquor control website. They list Beams new Ri 1 as Ri 1 rye bourbon, it is listed as 80 proof and is in the bourbon section. Not only are they socialists, they must be crackheads too!

Thomas

I hate crackhead socialists.

I like Woodford Reserve.

[smokinjoe]

If I ever start an alternative band, I'm going to name it "Crackhead Socialists". Catchy, don't you think?

[ACDetroit]

In the end it is my penny and my mouth so I will drink what I like.

MJL, I could not disagree with your comment either! As for Woodford Reserve by Jove I think he's got it.

Cheer!

Tony

[Stu]

I've said before that here is no such thing as bad whiskey, only overpriced whiskey. In my opinion almost everything Brown Forman makes falls in that category. The only drink I couldn't finish at the gala was Old Forester Birthday bourbon. The bottle was very pretty however.

[Rob K]

I've said before that here is no such thing as bad whiskey...

You obviously never tried the Osco house-brand bourbon.

[fishnbowljoe]

Gotta agree there Rob. That Gran Legacy bourbon leaves a lot to be desired. Joe

[cowdery]

One thing I would say about Woodford Reserve is that it's not really for us, although it is for people who might someday become us, but right now they want an easy-to-drink bourbon that hits the right image buttons for them and that's about it. They're not going on web sites to find new bourbons to try.

But give credit where credit is due. Brown-Forman created a very successful bourbon out of nothing, without many false starts. I'm sure there are a lot of other drinks companies scratching their heads and wondering how they did it.

One thing they did, which they are very good at, was make everything work together. Kentucky has a culture...a couple of them, actually. One is that affluent horsey golfy thing around Lexington. It has a look, a vibe, a palate. That's Woodford Reserve. Just like people all over the world buy into Jack Daniel's and the whole Lynchburg gestalt, Woodford has captured the whole thing again with Lexington-area horse set culture.

[MJL]

The drive through their horse farm on the way to the distillery sort of sets the mood for when you get out of the car. I was taking the gat out of the pocket of my faded shorts in their parking lot and I suddenly felt very underdressed as I saw the look of the other folks walking in the door. Still, despite the $5 tour charge I still think it was wonderful and not to be missed....although I would have liked another little blast of the juice to confirm what I was tasting. I took care of that down the road at a local purveyor of liquid refreshments.

[cowdery]

Even though you weren't complaining, I always like to point out why they do the $5 charge. Because they are in such a heavily-touristed area, with the horse farms, they were getting lots of tour groups (i.e., buses) that didn't really want to be there, but the tour operator put it on the itinerary because it was free. They would try to give this nice tour, but 3/4 of the people wouldn't be interested. They put the fee in and all of that stopped.

[NYtaster]

A quite few years ago my wife got me a bottle or WR on a trip to Tenessee to see her family. At the time I was new to bourbon and really only had much experience with JD (I know, but it is whiskey!!!). At the time I thought I had found God, in time my tastes moved away from the lighter tasting bourbons but it was WR that started me down the path. Now I'm a big fan of much of the Wild Turkey line with RB being my goto bottle. So, treeguy, with your tastes being much the same as mine I can't see this being a favorite for you either, but it is a good bourbon and it is worth experiencing at least once.