I received a 1.75l Woodford Reserve as a gift a few years ago. I agree with your thoughts, it's "fine" but not a go-to for me, so the level went down quite slowly. But then I discovered, to my surprise, that it's just as good with a rock, which ruins most bourbons for me. So it's now my favorite hot day bourbon, a big pour over an ice ball while the high proof stuff waits for cooler times.
Really enjoying your two chemistry, a good review, wood ford is OK as an old fashioned bourbon, but Bulleit is better, other than that there are other things to spend your money on
The last bottle I got was a 1.75 at Costco for around $55. I thought it was worth it at that price. I don't drink it often, but sometimes I feel like having something easy and lower proof, and this will fit the bill. Also have some friends that prefer lower proof stuff and this is perfect for them. Sweet and "smooth".
Excellent mixer and a classic sipper. Woodford Reserve is my first love. It converted me from drinking Crown on the rocks. I will ALWAYS keep a bottle or 2 on my bar.
We’re seeing that bear out in the viewership numbers. When you’re further down the road it’s easy to forget the classics. We’ll definitely keep this series going as they are fun to revisit.
Totally agree on the orange/citrus note, I find that note also jumps out with Buffalo Trace. I still think Woodford is a good quality, readily available choice that's right down the middle of the fairway - a safe choice, not especially exciting, but also not a turnoff. Great video! Nice to see some classics coming back under the lights!
Woodford has a strong following. Theres a ton of people who think its fancy. Its one of the most basic bourbons on the market imo. Its not bad in any way, but its not great either. It just kind of exists.
My personal favorite is the malted (blue label) I’m just not a fan of the double oaked, it’s just inconsistent to me. Standard Woodford is a good value IMO. Like you stated “no sharp edges, pretty appealing to most people”
Missed this video earlier in the year so 2023 is coming to a close but I picked up at least 1 of the 1.75 L bottle of this for a golf outing to share with friends over the weekend and leave at the camp we stayed at. I always have a bottle of this going. Generally I only drink on weekends and usually only 2 or 3 glasses at night so not a big volume drinker. I don't think a month goes by where I don't have at least a glass of WR. It is a great sipper neat or on the rocks. I usually by the bigger bottle on sale for around $60 which brings it down to the mid twenties for a 750ml bottle which IMO is tough to beat.
You guys get good prices. In NC Woodford reserve is $39.95, Double Oaked $62.95. Nothing wrong with Reserve but I too find I don't buy it as much anymore. Went on a Woodford tour recently and found I like their rye. Picked up some at home ($39.95).
I always have a bottle in my bar. It’s a good mixer at the price point. If I’m going somewhere where I need to bring something (mostly for in bourbon drinkers), I bring this.
I am going down memory avenue. It's not very complex or proofey , but it's good if you're in the mood for a easy sipper . I will say there are several other bourbons that I would rather drink in that price range. Buffalo Trace and Elijah Craig , just to mention a couple.
In absence of any other options, I will drink this. Just had some last week because the restaurant was out of Knob Creek. First preference is DO, second preference are store picks (which are closer to DO imo), last preference is standard WR. I do like their Rye too. Cheers! I am in the Mitten now, but grew up in O-H so I have a soft spot.......my kids on the other hand.....woof.....
I have to admit that my bias includes standard Elijah Craig, Makers Mark, and Woodford Reserve. Not sure why but I tend to shun them. I have an ECBP and a WR double oaked store pick but that's an exception. I did try the WR double oaked and wasn't a fan so like any normal person I made the banana pancake bottle (I hope I got that name right). Maybe I'll come around to these again after trying more at the same price. Rock on Voltron!
Woodford Reserve was one of the first bourbons I ever had. Comparable to Four Roses Single Barrel 100 and Bulleit mouthfeel wise. Not much of a fan of it although I do love the Double Oaked.
Nothing wrong with Woodford Reserve. The distillery and original aging warehouses in Versailles are beautiful and worth a visit. Some transparency on how much of WR is comprised of column still distillate from Shively would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath.
As always, great video! Appreciate what you bring to the community. If there are other bottles that you’d pick over the classic Woodford Reserve, what are some of those bottles? Agree with your take on this bottle. Thanks!
A lot of bottles at this point, primarily because we like a bit more proof and flavor with a bit more of an interesting profile. New to market, we’d take Green River over this in a heartbeat. Staple classics like Four Roses Single Barrel, Elijah Craig Small Batch, Cooper’s Craft Barrel Reserve, Russell’s 10, and even Early Times BiB are all much more to our taste these days.
I've never purchased a 750ml of Woodford, but definitely plenty of half pints. For some reason it just makes more sense to get a little $10 bottle of something with better tasting notes than the usual Jim Beam product, etc. For $30, I'd choose something else. I do enjoy it though! There's way too much bourbon to select from, we are spoiled.
I don’t drink a lot of sub-100 proof bourbon nor do I like anything under 100 proof for an Old Fashioned. If I was drinking a lower proofer, I prefer RR10, 1792 SB, or Elijah Craig SB.
Woodford is great for a light, bright, fruity whiskey but we're bigger fans of Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Select 94 proof at a slightly higher price but similar proof point *or* Early Times Bottled-in-Bond for a lower price and slightly higher proof point.
I put this in the same class as Basil Hayden. Good introduction to quality bourbon but I've moved on. Only some of the really low barrel entry proof whiskies like Michter's have enough flavor to interest me at less than 100 proof.
I like Woodford Reserve. I put it right up there with Knob Creek and Elijah Craig. Of course tastes differ. 🙂 But the wine comparison lost me. I know absolutely zip about wine, so when you say that Woodford Reserve is dry like white wine I don't know what that means. 😀
We'd tend to reach for something like Early Times Bottled-in-Bond or Green River Bourbon a bit more often than this, but for an easy summer sipper this would be pretty high on the list if we wanted something light and sweet.
MSRP 39.95 , don't know why all whiskey tubers always quote 5-10 bucks cheaper lol, y'all must live in magical cheap states haha. And yes, $5 to $10 is magical BECAUSE 12.5% to 25% is decent cost per bottle per purchase per year. Imagine for a sec that you had another 10 bucks what other whiskey you would buy or have towards the next bottle? Thanks for still making c9ntent that covers long standing brands, good to keep the quality check, never know the distilleries might slip in changes or be forced to change from suppliers shananigans.
Keep in mind that pricing is so market dependent even within the same brand. We’re in Nashville, TN and can get Woodford for $33 all day and $28 on sale, and we can get Four Roses Single Barrel for $40 which is a solid $10 cheaper than many markets where it’s $50, but Four Roses Small Batch Select is almost $75 here and it’s $60-65 in many other markets.
