Woodford Reserve is arguably one of the more widely known “premium” bourbons on the shelf, a position bolstered by effective marketing in certain well known Kentucky horse races. This Woodford expression is still relatively new by modern bourbon standards being created about 23 years ago by its current owner, Brown-Forman; however the distillery site has existed for over 230 years producing other brands from bygone eras. The bourbon is unique in one aspect in that it combines pot still and column still product into the final batch, although the ratios are undisclosed. Will this bourbon live up to its premium image in taste? Let's find out! Enjoyed neat in a Glencairn, no added water. On the nose this is one of the most complex bourbons I've had the pleasure of sniffing. It runs the flavor wheel with sweet toasted sugar and oak, light fruit and florals, cocoa, butterscotch, honey, spice and mint, orange zest, touch of leather belt with faint tobacco leaf. Classic rich and well rounded bourbon profile, very inviting. Palate starts sweet and creamy with deep and richly dark flavors of coffee bean and dark bitter chocolate or cocoa popping out immediately followed with citrus zest, baking spices, toffee and toasted oak. Pretty complex and rich taste with one of the strongest coffee and chocolate notes I've tasted in any bourbon thus far. There is also a tingle left on the tongue that's rather unique. It's very well balanced and easy drinking with a pleasant warmth and spiciness. Finish is rather long with honey, lingering tingly spice on the front of the tongue, vanilla, light anise, more light cocoa and toasted oak. Very nice! In the interest of full disclosure, I came into this sip thinking it just wouldn't be terribly good or interesting and I'm not even sure why I had this negative bias. I couldn't have been more wrong! I really like everything Woodford has to offer here and there's not much to find fault at the price. Maybe I wish it were a bit higher proof, but it's fine really. The nose is complex and rich and the taste is deep and dark and bright and lively all at once. Very well balanced, flavorful, and ultimately unique. I think if given this blindly, I would guess it came from a roughly $45 to $55 bottle, but instead at $33 I believe this is a great deal for the quality! It offers the classic bourbon notes you expect, but also brings a great uniqueness too that stands out from the crowd. I think in the $30 bourbon crowd this has earned a rotation among some of my other favorites in this range, such as Elijah Craig, Eagle Rare, Four Roses SmB, and Russell's Reserve 10. All are beautiful expressions of their respective distilleries and offer their own distinctive flavors. Well done Woodford, these guys aren't just horsing around afterall! Cheers!