WC Tries Some Woodford Reserve And Likes It
WhiskyCritic had a pleasant Turkey Day made even pleasanter by the presence of 90.4-proof [45.2% alcohol by volume] Woodford Reserve – a straight rye Kentucky whiskey.
The pairing of whiskey with the traditional accoutrements of the holiday’s feast turned out to be perfect, with the somewhat harder edge of the Woodford Reserve proving to be a good palate cleanser in between bites of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and, ultimately, pumpkin pie. It was all good.
For its part in the feast, Woodford Reserve went down the gullet a little too strong at first – teetering on a chemical note but never fully committing to that industrial strength regimen – but eventually mellowed out as it was allowed to breathe in the holiday air.
While Woodford Reserve is not among WC’s top favorites on the board, it is one of the better whiskies out there and we reward their effort with a strong 89 rating.
TheDean
November 25, 2016 @ 9:02 pm
I hate for my first contribution to be so negative, but, Straight Rye cannot, by law, be Bourbon. They are mutually exclusive. Bourbon, by law, is made from a mash of at least 51% corn.
The bottle of Woodford you show, is a Straight Rye Whiskey—not bourbon. So it can’t be “one of the better bourbons out there, as it is NOT bourbon.
Bourbon’s secondary grain can be Rye. There are high Rye bourbons (as much as 27%, maybe higher). Low rye bourbons (10%, or less). There are wheated bourbons, where wheat replaces rye as the second grain. But all bourbon is at least 51% corn.
On the other hand, the mash bill for Rye made in the USA is at least 51% rye—some as high as 95%, or more. As you can see, Rye whiskey cannot also by Bourbon whiskey, by definition.
I’d think someone rating whisky, and whiskey, would have these basic facts.
Alex Bean
November 26, 2016 @ 8:31 am
you are correct sir! and we do know all those facts. our mistake. in fact, we spent most of the day while drinking it talking about the definition of bourbon. call it post-turkey day l-tryptophan syndrome.