Woodford Reserve Honey Barrel Finish Bourbon Limited Edition “Distillery Series” Release
The latest Woodford Reserve Honey Barrel Finish Bourbon “Distillery Series” release is official and set to drop September 15th, 2022! More details on how to get your hands on this bottle release at the bottom of this review. However, it will join all of you brown-water fantastics to celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month.
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Like most of the expressions in the experimental series, this highly anticipated drop is featured on our bourbon release calendar. Therefore, bookmark that page and stay tuned for all of the upcoming Woodford Reserve releases. Nonetheless, here we review everything bourbon lovers need to know from price to proof to where to buy. Nonetheless, what exactly is the “Distillery Series” though you may ask?
SEE ALSO: Woodford Reserve Distillery Series: Info on Every Release
The Distillery Series started in 2015, featuring experimental releases typically only available at the Woodford Reserve Distillery gift shop in Versailles, Kentucky. The Woodford Distillery Series has typically featured one to four releases annually. This marks the second in that series for 2022, the last being Toasted Oak Oat Grain. If history repeats itself, Double Double Oaked can be expected just in time for the holidays.
Review & Tasting Notes
The Woodford Reserve Honey Barrel Finish Bourbon Distillery Series release is compromised of fully matured Woodford Reserve Bourbon that is then finished in whiskey barrels that once stored honey. It essentially starts as the Kentucky distillery’s flagship product, and is even bottled at the standard90.4 proof.
Woodford Reserve Distillery is located in an area of the Bluegrass that is rich in agriculture and horse farms. Therefore,Master Distiller Chris Morris sent some of his bourbon barrels that were just emptied to a local honey bee farmer in Woodford County, KY. The barrels were filled with freshly-harvested honey to get barrel aged. Those bourbon barrels were then sent back to the distillery where they took on another fill of Woodford Reserves staple product.
Those extra steps and focus on the final product results in a beautiful raw honey coloration, shining through theflask-like375mlbottle that has became expected from Woodford Reserve Distillery.
Inside the bottle itself is full of aroma that features floral notes of honeysuckle and lemon peel that combine with spicy clove, toasted coconut and honey graham cracker character. As for the juice itself, with the first sip your palate will be greeted withrich raw honey notes that also add a hint of bold baking spices that are softened by toasted oak and coconut malt.
As mentioned, the Distillery Series itself is an experimental series. That goes for the fans and for the Master Distiller. “One of the best parts of my job is being able to experiment with new ways of making Woodford Reserve,” states Master Distiller Chris Morris. “It’s been rewarding to work with a honey producer here in Woodford County to create this unique Distillery Series expression and support local business and agriculture.”
Color
Raw Honey.
Nose
Aroma: Floral notes of honeysuckle and lemon peel combine with spicy clove, toasted coconut and honey graham cracker character.
Palate
Taste: Rich raw honey, bold baking spices softened by toasted oak and coconut maltiness.
Finish
Long and Toasty.
SEE ALSO: Woodford Reserve Holiday Bottle 2021
Release Date & Availability
TheWoodford Reserve Honey Barrel Finish Bourbon “Distillery Series” release officially drops Thursday,September 15th, 2022. It will only be available at the Woodford Reserve Distillery gift shop and select Kentucky retailers.
SEE ALSO: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Returns to Bardstown, KY in September
Proof & ABV
This Honey Barrel Finish Distillery Series Bourbon is bottled at 90.4 proof and is non-chill filtered. The90.4-proofing is the equivalent of 45.2% ABV.
Mash Bill
The mash bill for this Woodford Reserve release is a grain recipe of 72% corn, 18% Rye, and 10% malted barley. This is also the standard mashbill for Woodford’s flagship product.
SEE ALSO: 2021 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, Larceny, Bourbon Release
MSRP & Secondary Price
This 2022 Limited Edition release is only available in a 375ml bottle which resembles a similar flask-like looking bottle the distillery uses for the most of its releases, but in smaller form.Woodford Honey Barrel Finish has an MSRP of $60. Being as it is a limited edition offering with limited allocation, the secondary market price will surely have you paying more than that.
However, you usually don’t see these bottles pop up on the secondary market at scale. With suggested retail pricing set for $60, your best option is probably to just take a roadtrip to the distillery in Woodford County, KY.
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