Woodford Reserve Straight Rye

53% Rye

Woodford Reserve was the whiskey that got me into bourbon and with Rittenhouse Rye being the first and only rye whiskey I ever tried (and loved), I had high hopes. The first flavours arriving immediately are treacle, bitter fruit, bergamote, lime, trailing off with orange. An instant later they are overpowered by spice: hot chili and pepper, this spice masks the arrival of a warm, round Madeira cake flavour, the flavours then start to morph delicately in a similar way to Woodford Reserve Bourbon with softer pepper, herbs, medicinal, smokey and toasty notes, ending with damp paprika and dry aged cumin. The finish is drying. With each sip, the fruity flavours at the beginning recede and it becomes increasingly bitter, dry and spicy. The whiskey is remarkable in the control over the flavours, it is clearly less complex and delicate than the bourbon and in my opinion, less enjoyable. After finishing, I notice my mouth is partially numb, unable to taste anything, as if my mouth had been scraped clean with a metal instrument... A somewhat peculiar sensation. Maybe longer ageing would improve this whiskey.