Review: Woodford Reserve Barrel Strength Rye

I don’t expect a lot of confusion over the genesis of this product — it’s a full proof version of Woodford’s winning rye, which is bottled at the brand’s standard 90.4 proof. Literally nothing else has changed with this release except it isn’t watered down from the 125.1 proof it reaches in the barrel (or rather, the collective proof of all the barrels used to make this limited edition release). The mash of 53% rye, 14% malted barley, and 33% corn remains the same, and the release carries no age statement.

Of added note, it’s the highest proof rye Woodford has ever released.

Let’s go for it.

Woodford Reserve Barrel Strength Rye Review

All of the best features of Woodford’s rye formula are on display here, beginning with a bold nose that is equal parts fruit and spice. Cherries and orange give off an immediate sangria vibe, after which bold cinnamon, clove, and ginger aromas come on strong. The 62+% abv isn’t shy, of course, and a substantial booziness can threaten to overwhelm at times. Hang in there.

The palate is racy and spicy and fruity all at once, again a showcase of fruit and spice, with all of the above represented alongside more emergent notes of dark chocolate and well-torched caramel. Quite minty as it develops, the experience somehow settles down as it sits on the back of the palate, never becoming the scorcher you may well be expecting.

I waited forever to add water to this whiskey, and in the end I found it didn’t really need it, softening the experience up to the point where it, well, tasted a lot like standard Woodford Rye. That’s fine, but given that this bottling is three or four times the price of the original, you are well advised to approach tempering this whiskey with water by the eyedropper, not the splash.

125.1 proof.

A / $130

The post Review: Woodford Reserve Barrel Strength Rye appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider’s Guide to Good Drinking.