Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select (regular ol' Woodford)

Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select

Cost: Purchased for $38 at Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KY (You can likely get it cheaper at your favorite package store, but it was also an engraved bottle I got as a gift (but a little photo shopping to remove my name). You can get bottles engraved at the distillery.)

Age: NAS (rumored to be 6-7 years)

Proof: 90.4 proof

Mash Bill: 72% corn/18% rye/10% malted barley

Bottle 2949 of batch 8678. Reviewed neat in a glencairn.

Appearance: Amber. Medium legs. Oily looking.

Nose: Orange peel, vanilla, a hint of cherry, and some kettle corn. There’s really nothing offensive about this nose, but there’s nothing too unique about it either. It’s classic bourbon.

Palate: It’s rather thin on the palate and doesn’t coat the mouth very well. Caramel apple and maple syrup on a bed of oak. There’s a pop of vanilla and pepper that show up late to the party. There’s quite a bit of flavor even though it’s rather thin.

Finish: Orange and vanilla linger with a touch of sweet oak. There’s really not much else to this finish. There’s a very light burn in the back of the throat but nothing I’d really call a hug with this one. It’s a pleasantly, unpronounced finish.

Rating: 4.8/10

Overall: This isn’t a very “clickable” review. It’s always on the shelf of your favorite liquor store (and your least favorite liquor store). It’s probably about the same price of around $30-$35 everywhere you go. Most everyone has had it at some point. So, what am I sharing that you don’t already know about Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select? Probably nothing (except maybe that you can get the bottles engraved at the distillery?) This is an average bourbon through and through. It’s solid. Classic notes. Nothing exotic. Nothing pretentious. Just…classic bourbon. It’s a very unoffensive, no risks taken, tried-and-true bourbon that I think no bourbon lover could argue isn’t decent, and most bourbon novices wouldn’t wince at. Whether it's your daily sipper, your go to cocktail bourbon, your warmup before the good stuff, or just a bottle you always skip over at the store because it isn’t exciting and it’ll always be there, there’s no doubting it’s a reliable workhorse for any bar.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things I’d rather have.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect