Woodford Reserve Malt Whiskey
Woodford Reserve Malt Whiskey — in full, Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey — is a 750mL straight malt whiskey bottled at 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV), made from a grain recipe of 51% malted barley, 47% corn and 2% rye and aged in new charred oak barrels at Versailles, Kentucky. Unlike a Scotch single malt, which is 100% malted barley, the 51% recipe is built, in the brand's words, as "the malt whiskey for bourbon drinkers". It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 45.2% (90.4 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Grain recipe: 51% malted barley, 47% corn, 2% rye
- Casks: New charred oak barrels
- Style: Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey, no age statement
- Distillery: Woodford Reserve, Versailles, Kentucky
- Origin: Kentucky
The Grain-Source Showcase
Woodford builds its flavour from five sources — grain, water, fermentation, distillation and maturation — and its grain-recipe expressions each put one grain in the spotlight. For the Straight Malt, launched in 2018 as a permanent member of the Distiller's Select family, Master Distiller Chris Morris worked from historical Kentucky malt recipes: malt whiskey was one of the four straight-whiskey styles recognised after Prohibition, and with Bourbon, Rye, Malt and (a year later) Wheat, Woodford assembled all four. See the range on the Woodford Reserve vendor page; bourbon drinkers starting from the original will find it in our bourbon whiskey collection.
Tasting Notes
Per the producer: a warm umber colour; soft nutty notes with light caramel and milk chocolate over apple, dried and tropical fruit, with brown spice, savoury mint, brown sugar and freshly milled toasted oak; dark chocolate and caramel-coated nuts dried with cocoa powder and brown spice on the palate, brightened by a fruit medley, toasted coconut and rich oak; and a nutty finish of subtly sweet chocolate-malt.
How to Enjoy
Neat or with a splash of water, where the cocoa and toasted-nut side opens up — and a rewarding Manhattan variation for drinkers who know the bourbon original. More from Versailles is on the Woodford Reserve vendor page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Woodford Reserve Malt a bourbon?
No. Bourbon requires a corn-majority mash; this is a Kentucky straight malt whiskey whose lead grain is malted barley (51%), with 47% corn and 2% rye. It is made for bourbon drinkers, but it is not one.
What size is this bottle?
750mL — the only size the Kentucky Straight Malt is bottled in.
How is it different from a Scotch single malt?
Recipe and wood: a Scotch single malt is made entirely from malted barley, usually aged in used casks. This Kentucky malt is 51% malted barley with corn and rye, aged in new charred oak — richer, sweeter and more oak-forward.
Kentucky's take on malt, at a full 90.4 proof — order Woodford Reserve Malt Whiskey online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.