Woodford Reserve Rye
Took some getting used to
4 382
Review by @Megawatt
- Nose22
- Taste21
- Finish19
- Balance20
- Overall82
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Distribution of ratings for this:
- Brand: Woodford Reserve
- Type: American
- ABV: 45.2%
- Batch: 411
Nose: dried herbs. A bit earthy. Oak char, and some sweet spices, mainly cinnamon. Stewed apples. A complex nose combining bourbon and rye characteristics. Some exotic Indian spices start coming up with time, as well as vanilla.
Taste: hot and sharp on the palate. Quite a mouthful actually. Peppery to the point it almost stings the throat. Not smooth by any means. At first I found a pronounced herbal bitterness, like biting into a grape seed. I find this flavour a bit in Woodford bourbon as well, and it put me off initially. But after half the bottle (mostly used in cocktails), I'm coming around to it.
Finish: bitter at first, but as that clears there are sweeter notes and anise and apple.
Balance: serves as a good reminder why rye whiskey can be an acquired taste. A bit of a wild ride here which took some getting used to, but on closer inspection I found a lot to like about it.
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@Megawatt - Thanks for this honest and insightful review. I have a bottle that I'm yet to open but expected something more subdued and less edgy. I might like this quite a bit based on your notes although that pepperyness might be a bit much.