Woodford was one of my first true sipping whiskies. At that point in my whiskey journey, it stood toward the top of the pack. Years later, I'm curious to see how this one holds up. Nose: It's a notably dusty nose. Very standard for a bourbon. Caramel, vanilla, maple, cola, cocoa. Oak is prominent. It's a bit grassy as well. Faintly reminiscent of the smell of fresh-cut hay. Occasionally, I pick up the scent of a burnt/burning match. Solid nose. Palate: A tad water and thin. Doesn't destroy the experience, but it is a slight detractor. Once again, standard bourbon notes. Caramel, honey, vanilla, toffee, and cocoa. Cinnamon and black pepper are especially prominent with the high rye mash bill. Oak is still prominent. Finish: Moderate, maybe slightly above average in length. Spicy notes coming in the form of cinnamon and black pepper. There's also a bitterness similar to what you'd get with an IPA. Overall, this bourbon is exactly what one should expect it to be. In terms of price and quality, this one floats between what I'd classify as the first and second tiers. It's slightly above the standard entry level, but cannot compete with McKenna 10, Eagle Rare, Maker's 46, Four Roses SB, Russell's 10, etc. At $34, this is a fine value. Another example of a reliable bourbon that you can find in a pinch. And in my opinion, it's one of the top 5 introductory bourbons for beginners. Not too sweet, not intense, and a great representative of the genre. My only complaint is that it's a bit thin and just doesn't feel like it's really 45.2%. More like 43 or even less. That aside, this one is good enough to warrant its reputation.