🥃 Woodford Reserve
A Kentucky bourbon from a historic distillery in Versailles, Kentucky; the site has operated since 1812; the main version is 45.2% ABV; owned by Brown-Forman.
Woodford Reserve is a Kentucky bourbon brand produced by Brown-Forman at a distillery in Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky. The main version, Kentucky Straight Bourbon, is 45.2% ABV. The site has been linked with production since 1812, and the brand's owner is the American company Brown-Forman.
History. The distillery on the site was started in 1812 by Oscar Pepper, and the Scottish distiller James Crow worked here as master distiller. In 1878 the site was bought by James Graham and Leopold Labrot, and the distillery became Labrot & Graham. Brown-Forman bought it around 1940; it was later closed, and in the mid-1990s the company restarted production. Woodford Reserve appeared in 1996. The place has the status of a US National Historic Landmark. This history matters because the brand is young while the site is old.
How it is made. Bourbon is whiskey made from at least 51% corn and aged in new charred oak barrels. According to Difford's Guide, the distillery distils three times rather than twice, and fermentation lasts longer. The exact composition of the main mash bill is not given in our sources.
The range. Besides the main version, there are Double Oak, Straight Rye, Straight Malt and the annual Master's Collection series.
Why this matters to you. The words "Kentucky Straight Bourbon" mean at least 2 years in new charred barrels, with no colouring, flavouring or neutral spirit. Not every release under the brand is bourbon: Rye and Malt use different raw materials. WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | the site, 1812 (Oscar Pepper); Labrot & Graham, 1878; the Woodford Reserve brand, 1996 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | 27 CFR § 5.143 (USA), the bourbon standard |
| EU category | 2 - whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | corn (at least 51%), rye, malted barley |
| Distillation method | according to Difford's Guide, three times; Versailles, Kentucky |
| Cask type | new charred oak barrels; Double Oak has additional maturation |
| Minimum maturation | for Straight Bourbon, at least 2 years under 27 CFR § 5.143 |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 45.2% ABV (Kentucky Straight Bourbon) |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Woodford Reserve → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Brown-Forman
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Americans
- Part of
- 🥃 Bourbon whiskey, 🥃 Straight bourbon whiskey, 🥃 Whisky
- Related to
- 🥃 Sour mash
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Jack Daniel's, 🥃 Four Roses, 🥃 Four Roses, 🥃 Bunnahabhain, 🥃 Bunnahabhain, 🥃 Four Roses Bourbon, 🥃 Four Roses Small Batch, 🥃 Four Roses Single Barrel, 🥃 Four Roses Small Batch Select, 🥃 Michter's, 🥃 Old Forester, 🥃 Kentucky Bourbon
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Woodford Reserve is bourbon from 1812?
Not quite. Production on this site dates back to 1812, but Woodford Reserve as a brand appeared only in 1996.
Where is Woodford Reserve made?
In Versailles, Kentucky, at the historic Labrot & Graham distillery, a National Historic Landmark.
Who owns Woodford Reserve?
Brown-Forman, an American company that also owns Jack Daniel's.
How many times is bourbon distilled?
According to Difford's Guide, Labrot & Graham distils three times instead of the usual two.
What is the strength of the main version?
45.2% ABV according to the official website.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🧪 Water — ~87% of milk.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Americans — The people of the United States in North America, descendants of settlers and Native peoples; their home-grown cheese is California's Monterey Jack.
- 🥃 Jack Daniel's — Tennessee whiskey from Lynchburg (USA): before aging, the spirit is filtered through a three-metre layer of sugar maple charcoal.
Similar
🥃 Four Roses · 🥃 Evan Williams · 🥃 Bulleit · 🥃 Old Crow · 🥃 Jim Beam · 🥃 Baker's
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Woodford Reserve Distillery (Labrot & Graham), established 1812, Oscar Pepper and James Crow, triple distilled, Brown-Forman
- Woodford Reserve (official site): Versailles, Kentucky; National Historic Landmark; Kentucky Straight Bourbon 45.2 % ABV
- 27 CFR § 5.143 (US): whisky standards of identity: bourbon (min. 51 % corn, new charred oak, distilled at max. 160 proof, barrel entry max. 125 proof, bottled min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)