Woodford Reserve has launched Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Malt, the fourth expression to the Woodford Reserve portfolio which includes Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and Woodford Reserve Rye.
This new malt expression was driven by Master Distiller Chris Morris, who used historical recipes from Woodford Reserve Bourbon to create this spirit and to help revive the tradition of American Malt Whiskeys, the company says. Coming out of Prohibition, the Federal Government approved four straight whiskey standards: Bourbon, Rye, Wheat, and Malt. These reflected the types of whiskies produced in the United States prior to Prohibition.
Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Malt has aromas of nutty notes with light caramel and milk chocolate, the company says, plus a light layer of tropical fruit character, and hints of brown spice, mint, brown sugar and soft oak. The taste is dark chocolate and caramel-covered nuts dried out with a touch of cocoa and brown spice, plus faint ripe tropical fruit that brighten a trace of toasted coconut and oak. The finish is nutty with a subtly sweet chocolate malt note.
The grain bill of Woodford Reserve Malt is 51% malt, resulting in a whiskey that complements the nutty characteristics found in the original Woodford Reserve, the company says.
Woodford Reserve Malt presents at 90.4 proof, with a suggested retail price of $34.99 for a 750-ml. bottle. It is available now, nationwide.
Below, Morris and Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall provide insights about Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Malt:
Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey from kyle swartz on Vimeo.
