Woodford Reserve: Kentucky Derby Bourbon Under Scrutiny
As the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, Woodford Reserve has the pedigree. But does the liquid in the glass match the prestige of the name?
Woodford Reserve enjoys the kind of brand positioning that marketing executives dream about. It's the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, a fixture behind every upscale bar in America, and the bottle that hotel minibars deploy when they want to signal sophistication. The distillery in Versailles is gorgeous, the packaging is elegant, and the name carries weight. The only question is whether the bourbon inside matches the image outside.
The answer is: it's complicated. Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select is a competent, well-made bourbon that does several things quite well. The nose is moderately sweet—honey, nuts, vanilla buttercream, and charred wood create a pleasant, if predictable, opening. There's dried corn and a hint of orange sponge cake that adds character, though the overall impression is of restraint rather than revelation.
On the palate, things get interesting in unexpected ways. Light honey arrives with mint and a peppery sharpness that gives the bourbon more edge than its smooth reputation suggests. Caramel apple adds sweetness, but the overall intensity is surprisingly low for a 90.4-proof bourbon. It drinks thin—there's no getting around this—and the flavor profile, while pleasant, lacks the depth that similarly priced competitors deliver.
The finish is where opinions diverge most sharply. Lightly sweet honey and vanilla give way to lingering wood dryness, green pepper, and aged oak. There's leather and tobacco in the fade. Some find this dry, complex finish sophisticated; others find it abrupt and unsatisfying.
At $35, Woodford Reserve faces stiff competition from Wild Turkey 101, Knob Creek 9 Year, and Elijah Craig Small Batch—all of which deliver more flavor and better value. This is a bourbon that works better as a component (the Mint Julep at Churchill Downs uses it for good reason) than as a solo performer.
But here's where the story gets interesting: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked transforms the formula into something genuinely compelling. The additional maturation in heavily toasted barrels adds the depth, sweetness, and richness that the standard release lacks. If you're considering Woodford, skip straight to the Double Oaked. Your palate will thank you.
