If you consider yourself a whiskey drinker, you know exactly which one to grab when at the liquor store. But would you say you're a whiskey connoisseur? If not, we're here to help you by guiding you in the direction of some fantastic Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. Dubbed as "the world's finest bourbon," get a taste of the Woodford Reserve Distillery series. Here are the different kinds of this old-fashioned whiskey available, as well as what makes it so smooth in cocktail recipes.
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1. Straight Bourbon Whiskey
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We can start with the tried and true OB (official bourbon), which is also the most popular of the bunch. "The perfectly balanced taste of our Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is comprised of more than 200 detectable flavor notes, from bold grain and wood, to sweet aromatics, spice, and fruit and floral notes."
It has a rich, smooth taste of cocoa, with a silky smooth and creamy finish.
2. Double Oaked
Woodford reserve double oaked is the kind of whiskey to buy if you want something where the flavors have really soaked in. This master distiller second oak barrel whiskey is one of Woodford County's finest. Uniquely matured in separate, charred oak single barrels this whiskey extracts an additional soft, sweet oak character.
A mix of coffee toppings in the form of vanilla, dark caramel, and hazelnut, this will leave you with a creamy, apple finish. Think toffee but in a glass with ice. A cask of this Woodford Reserve Kentucky specialty should be in every home.
3. Rye Whiskey
Talk about something that takes us back in time. Rye whiskey has probably been around as long as the country itself has. "Woodford Reserve Rye uses a pre-prohibition style ratio of 53% rye in its mash bill to pay homage to history's original rye whiskeys, making spice and tobacco the dominant note among a sea of fruit, floral, and sweet aromatics, which yields a nice sweetness and overall balance."
Clove, rye, mint julep, molasses, sorghum, and honey, with notes of apple and salt give a sweet and spicy finish to this Woodford Reserve bourbon. The Kentucky straight rye whiskey might as well be a national historic landmark itself.
4. Malt Whiskey
51 percent malt and aged in new charred oak barrels, this is an American whiskey for real whiskey drinkers. "The base of 51% malt results in a whiskey that is richly flavorful and complex and amplifies the nutty characteristics found in the original Woodford Reserve."
Like drinking melted dark chocolate and caramel, this Kentucky straight malt whiskey has a sweet chocolate finish.
5. Kentucky Derby
Want to really impress the guests? Serve the Kentucky Derby limited edition. Being limited, though, you can really only serve it in small-batch bourbon shots or this stuff will run out quick!
6. Wheat Whiskey
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"Woodford Reserve Wheat is based on historical recipes but influenced by the iconic core Woodford Reserve Bourbon brand. With wheat as the dominant grain at 52%, followed by malt (20%), corn (20%) and rye (8%), this uniquely crafted whiskey boasts fruit and floral flavors."
Described as a spicy applesauce and toasted coconut, this whiskey is for wheat lovers everywhere.
7. Baccarat Edition
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This takes 3 maturation seasons to make. "Sourced by our Master Distiller Chris Morris, each barrel has seen three seasons of cognac before being filled with Woodford Reserve.The result is the best of both spirits - a balance of crisp American and French oak notes, complex fruit character, subtle spiciness, and a creamy confectionary finish."
The rich malt and oak flavor will leave you with a velvety, spiced finish.
8. Master's Collection
"This year's expression marks the 15th release of the Master's Collection, which was created to honor the many discoveries and innovations that occurred at the 1812 distillery site where Woodford Reserve is now located."
This very fine, bare Woodford Reserve Master includes liquid going as far back as 2003, and is a mix of sweet and citrus to give a malty sweetness finish.
It's hard to go wrong with a hearty meal like wild turkey with a delicious whiskey. Ditch the Maker's Mark and try this gorgeous Brown-Forman whiskey. You won't be sorry.
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