Woodford reserve masters collection chocolate malted rye

Immediate Release

Contact: Chris Poynter

502-396-2015

WOODFORD RESERVE RELEASES FALL 2019 MASTER’S COLLECTION: CHOCOLATE MALTED RYE BOURBON

October 15, 2019 (LOUISVILLE, KY) – Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris, always seeking to innovate with new flavor ideas for whiskey, discovered a unique flavor technique: toast rye grain long enough and it begins to taste like chocolate.

Thus was born his newest whiskey — Woodford Reserve Chocolate Malted Rye Bourbon. This limited-selection and one-time-only product is being released this month in the United States and globally as part of Woodford Reserve’s celebrated Master’s Collection. 

“The rye malt was roasted to a level that its natural sugars caramelized into a dark chocolate note,” Morris said. “This special bourbon even surprised me as it matured in our warehouses. Each time I tasted it, the chocolate notes became even more pronounced.” 

The product, with a suggested retail price of $129.99, has hints of dark chocolate and spice and presents at 90.4 proof. The mash bill is 70% corn, 15% chocolate malted rye, 15% distillers malt.

“Woodford Reserve Bourbon has a complex and balanced flavor profile that includes a hint of chocolate,” Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall said. “Chocolate Malted Rye takes those cocoa notes to a new level. Everything we do at Woodford Reserve goes back to our core belief that flavor is everything.”

Woodford Reserve releases two Master’s Collections each year — one in the fall and one in the spring. They are produced with the same heritage and tradition that surrounds the iconic Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky. Since the mid-1800s, the site has been known for its visionary approach to distilling. Today, Woodford Reserve Distillery is visited by more than 140,000 people each year. 

The special releases are in addition to the core permanent expressions — Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, Woodford Reserve Rye, Woodford Reserve Malt and Woodford Reserve Wheat Whiskey. 

TASTING NOTES

Color: Medium caramel

Aroma: Soft mocha, delicate caramel and roasted nut notes mingle with hints of cedar, soft oak and a touch of fruit.

Flavor: Roasted rye grain, dry cocoa nibs and dark chocolate spice up a soft mocha character atop a layer of cherry fruit and toasted oak.

Finish: Long and chocolatey

High-res images may be accessed here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/r6wce1eiwkphi2w/AAAaf2oSj-cdVC1oqojDV9uha?dl=0

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About Woodford Reserve: 

Woodford Reserve, “Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby,” is crafted at the historic Woodford Reserve Distillery, tucked in the heart of thoroughbred country in Versailles, Kentucky. A National Historic Landmark, the Woodford Reserve Distillery represents craftsmanship with a balance of historic heritage and modern practices. Woodford Reserve is a product of the Brown-Forman Corporation, a premier producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands including Jack Daniel’s, Finlandia, Korbel, Tequila Herradura, Old Forester, Sonoma-Cutrer and Chambord. Please enjoy your bourbon responsibly. To learn more about Woodford Reserve, visit us www.woodfordreserve.com  or check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/woodfordreserve. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey, 45.2% Alc. by Vol., produced and bottled by the Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY ©2019.

1. sarthur71 scored this whisky 82 points

   

   19 jun 2022 11:33 am

   

2. MarcinCh scored this whisky 85 points

   

   18 may 2022 8:12 pm

   

   Dark amber color. It does not seem too oily in a glass.

   • Very intense, full, rich and intense aroma. Dessert notes. There is heavy caramel, but also milk chocolate, although maybe one with a little higher cocoa content than average. A pinch of spices. Some cinnamon. A delicate note of herbs in the background. Closest to thyme and rosemary. Varnishes, but in an acceptable version. Wax. Maple syrup. Honeycombs. A hint of vanilla. A pinch of spices. Nutmeg. Notes of oak. Maybe some nuts. Extremely complex nose for a bourbon.

   • Caramel. Vanilla. Maple syrup, but everything in a more dry version. Oakwood. Later, milk chocolate appears. A pinch of spices. Something like wax. Some varnishes. Dessert chocolate.

   • At the beginning, chocolate, dessert. The most noticeable chocolate of all stages. Even a little milky. A pinch of spices. Cinnamon and white pepper. Cocoa. Some oak. Heavily roasted caramel. A bit of vanilla in the background. Medium-long finish. Great for a bourbon.

3. claymore84 scored this whisky 83 points

   

   07 mar 2021 9:10 pm

   
4. 

   I like the spirit of experimentation and willingness to try new things that drives the Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection. On the whole I think that the Balcones Rye was a much more successful use of a chocolate rye, but this Woodford Reserve Chocolate Malted Rye Bourbon was interesting to try.

   • Chocolate covered cherries, wax, orange peel, wood, leather, nutmeg, vanilla and nuts.

   • Woody, nutty, metallic, oxidized cocoa, burnt popcorn and a touch of cardamum pods and Good & Plenty.

   • Short -> Coppery/metallic, burnt popcorn and nuts.

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