cascode
Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Very Fine Rare Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
March 31, 2022 (edited May 3, 2022)
Nose: The nose is heavy but well balanced and is packed full of baking aromas - pecan pie, cherry cobbler, treacle tart, cornbread, toasty oak and dark chocolate cake. There’s a reminiscence of smoke, like tobacco in an old leather pouch and a note that is almost like a sherry cask (nah, surely not). Very satisfying.
Palate: Good arrival – full bodied, creamy, oily oak and big fruit flavours. Vanilla and dark honey in the development with some well managed oak tannin and spice notes, but nothing is bright or gaudy about this palate. It is magisterial and assured, but not boastful. The mouthfeel is exquisitely rounded.
Finish: Medium/long. The dense woody fruit character tails off into brown sugar.
A very well balanced profile that leans towards the oaky side of things, but not disarmingly so. There is an elegant and mature sweetness to the palate.
I enjoyed this a lot. It comes on full-throttle but does not overwhelm and there is a charming gentle side to it as well. For me the proof is right on target and well chosen to showcase the style. Do NOT add water – it actively spoils this first-class bourbon.
Expensive, but worth it.
“Very Good” : 86/100 (4 stars)
250.0
AUD
per
Bottle
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@cascode thanks Chief
@DrRHCMadden The core range Double Oaked is my benchmark for Woodford Reserve. Over here it is very reasonably priced (only 30% the cost of this Very Fine Rare expression) but it delivers almost as much. I reviewed it here in 2017 and gave it 3.75 stars. The Masters Collection expressions usually have just a bit more to them, and the Batch Proof from a couple of years back is one of my 5-star whiskies, but for value and consistency the Double Oaked is hard to beat 👍
Given the choice of this, which is clearly great, or Woodford a regular double Oakes offering; what would you keep on your shelf? I haven’t been fortunate enough to try this but I love the double oak, for me it is decadence in glass (think anchorman style leather and rich mahogany). I’m tempted to hunt one down though, if it’s a marked improvement over the double oak…
@skillerified The water source for tempering is variously talked up or dismissed as irrelevant by different distillers, and it’s not something that can be controlled by most distillers anyway, if cask blending is done elsewhere. I’m not convinced either way 🤔
Also, as for proofing down, isn't there something to be said for the distiller choosing the water they cut with? Depending on mineral content and whatnot, the water could have a huge impact on final taste. I know it's certainly a big deal in the beer world where brewers routinely "create" the type of water they want for a flavor profile.
@Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington Absolutely. Please share liberally.
@cascode I believe @skillerified has come up with a solution that he wouldn’t mind me passing along, basically a modern-day chat room - https://discord.gg/T2YAGuhQ
@cascode Proofing is a real art. Personally, I love when a distiller picks the right proof to showcase a whiskey.
@dhsilv2 Proof and subjective impression is an interesting topic and it's worthy of much lengthier discussion than we can manage here. It's a real pity that Distiller does not have a user forum for moderated discussion threads. Everything here is piecemeal and a topic is lost amongst the noise as soon as it is started. I don't know why they have not introduced something like this by now, at lest for paid members. I would not have to be part of the existing site, just a linked forum. There is software that allows amateurs to set up something like that in half an hour so it's strange that it is not included as part of the parcel here.
@dhsilv2 The point I was making in the review was that in my opinion it is a mistake to diminish this from bottling strength. As regards higher proof then fair enough if this was offered at higher proof I'd MOST LIKELY dilute it to around 45%, which comment I base on my prior experience with Woodford Reserve expressions at batch strength. Anyway I take your point and I agree - I generally prefer cask strength whiskies for the same reason.
Also sorry hit enter by mistake. Some NIGHTS I might want a few % more or less just based on how I feel. That's the problem for me.
@cascode how can you KNOW it wouldn't be better at 45.1 or 46? That's the problem
@dhsilv2 If this was bottled at higher proof I'd dilute it down to 45% anyway. For my taste that is the sweet spot for this expression and the maker nailed it. Dropping it lower than that is the problem as it loses texture and the palate becomes unbalanced, which is why I caution against water. I suppose you could argue that at higher proof you'd effectively get more drams for your money, but it doesn't bother me.
Mostly agree, but when you have to add in "do not add water", that to me always means "we needed higher proof" so I like adjusting bourbon especially to my taste profile.
Great review!