Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby Bourbon Whiskey, 1 L

The art of making fine bourbon first took place on the site of the Woodford Reserve Distillery, a National Historic Landmark, in 1812. The perfectly balanced taste of our Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is comprised of more than 200 detectable flavor notes, from bold grain and wood, to sweet aromatics, spice, and fruit & floral notes.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Clean, brilliant honey amber
• Nose: Heavy with rich dried fruit, hints of mint and oranges covered with a dusting of cocoa. Faint vanilla and tobacco spice
• Taste: Rich, chewy, rounded and smooth, with complex citrus, cinnamon and cocoa. Toffee, caramel, chocolate and spice notes abound
• Finish: Silky smooth, almost creamy at first with a long, warm satisfying tail

Flavor Wheel

• Grain: Malt, and Rye
• Wood: Almond, Hazelnut, Pecan, Cedar, Oak, and Walnut
• Fruit and Floral: Apple, Apricot, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Cognac, Cranberry, Green Apple, Honey Suckle, Lemon, Orange, Peach, Pear, Pear, Rose Petal
• Spice: Anise, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Clove, Coffee, Herbal, Mint, Nutmeg, Tobacco
• Sweet Aromatics: brown sugar, Butterscotch, Caramel, Chocolate, Honey, Maple Syrup, Marzipan, Vanilla

Commemorative Derby Bottle

Woodford Reserve, the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby, is honoring “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” with the release of its 2026 commemorative Derby bottle. This year’s special release celebrates the 152nd running of the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports. This year’s bottle features original artwork by Anna Murphy, a Chicago artist known for her signature ‘blue and white’ porcelain-inspired style. Her artwork – “Dress to Impress, 152” – is a radiant tribute to Derby fashion, where bold style, timeless tradition, and the spirit of celebration come to life. The artwork also features the Derby’s iconic red roses and other symbolic florals, including speedwell, historically gifted for protection during travel.

Process

• Grain: Woodford Reserve is crafted from a grain recipe of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley. This recipe balances the sweetness of corn with the spice of rye, and the nuttiness of malt to build the base.
• Water: The water we use to craft Woodford Reserve comes directly from the distillery. It is naturally filtered by the limestone deposits under our property. Iron-free and mineral rich, it is a crucial ingredient in the process.
• Fermentation: Our fermentation process is among the longest in the industry. This extra time, paired with our unique yeast strain, creates a great depth of character and a complex range of flavors.
• Distillation: The perfectly balanced flavor of Woodford Reserve comes from a careful batching process of whiskey distilled in pot stills and whiskey distilled in column stills. No other whiskey can boast such a flavor combination.
• Maturation: We mature Woodford Reserve in new, charred, white oak barrels of our own making. The barrel is a key ingredient in our process, contributing flavor, complexity, and balance. That’s why we craft, toast, and char bourbon barrels at our very own cooperage. After filling, barrels age in our unique heat-cycled warehouses until mature.

Awards and Accolades

• 2023 Double Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• 2018 Gold Medal, Class Bartender Awards
• 2016 Gold Medal, Whiskies of the World Awards
• 2015 Excellent, Highly Recommended, Ultimate Spirits Challenge
• 2014 Gold Medal, Whiskies of the World Awards
• 2014 Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• 2013 Double Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• 2012 Best in Class, Gold Medal, International Spirits Challenge
• 2012 Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• 2012 Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation, Ultimate Spirits Challenge
• 2011 Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Sustainability

• 98% of waste material recycled, across all operations
• 10 Acres of Land on the Woodford Reserve property dedicated to native grass restoration
• 97% of food scraps are composted on the Woodford Reserve property

Woodford Spire Recipe

Ingredients

• 1.5 fl. oz. Bourbon Whiskey
• 2 fl. oz. Lemonade
• 1 fl. oz. Cranberry Juice

Garnish

• Lemon Twist

Instructions

1. Add ingredients to mixing glass and stir

2. Pour over ice

3. Garnish with a lemon twist