Woodford Reserve Straight Rye

Nose- sweet and caramel with fruit. Taste- peppery and sweet at the start of a typical rye. As the whiskey lingers it almost seems like a bourbon with caramel and fruit notes. Perhaps the rye ratio is lower for this whiskey. Finish- the pepper returns with a spicy finish that lingers on the tongue. Similar to red pepper flakes. Overall- a nice sipping rye that works well in manhattans. Woodford is well known for its bourbon and does not stray too far into the realm of Rye as to turn people off. The traditional rye notes seem muted and the bourbon notes shine through. Overall a good foray into rye whiskey for someone used to bourbons.

Store pick

Tasting neat: Nose of orange, vanilla, and pepper. Taste of chocolate and spice. Long lingering spicy finish with astringent pepper and dark cherry.

Nose is very weak, smells like wood polish. Taste is on the sweeter side but very bland. Just an ok bottle

One of my first ryes - really enjoyed it, spicy but smooth