Woodford Reserve 2023 Master's Collection "Triple Sonoma Finish" Bourbon Review & Tasting Notes

Each autumn since 2004, with its Four Grain Bourbon, Woodford Reserve launched its annual Master’s Collection. For 2023, the 19^th entry of this series is called Triple Sonoma Finish Bourbon.  

 

“In 2014, Woodford Reserve released the first Pinot Noir finished Kentucky Bourbon in history, Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Finish. This was followed in 2016 with the first-ever American Brandy Cask finished Bourbon. The Pinot Noir and brandy barrels used for these releases were obtained from famous Sonoma County wineries. These releases featured big, bold, red and dried fruit flavors along with dark chocolate and baking spice notes.” – Woodford Reserve

 

Wineries have been capitalizing on the whiskey boom by using former Bourbon barrels to age their wines. Woodford’s barrels are no exception to the rule. Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall put a twist on that – she took former Woodford barrels used to age red wine as a finishing barrel. And those, combined with the former Sonoma County Pinot Noir and Brandy barrels, give this Bourbon its distinctive name.

 

Woodford used its flagship 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley mashbill, and #4 charred oak as its base. It carries no age statement, but Woodford finishes its whiskeys for at least a year. Availability is limited to the distillery gift shop, and a 700ml bottle can be procured for $149.99. It is packaged at 45.2% ABV (90.4°).

 

I thank Woodford Reserve for providing me with this year’s release sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Now, let’s #DrinkCurious and learn what makes it special.

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to sip this Bourbon neat. Inside the glass, it appeared as a rich, caramel color. The rim was medium-weighted and generated quick, thick tears.

 

Nose: The two wines heavily influenced the Bourbon’s nose. I smelled dark cherries, plums, strawberries, raspberries, and chocolate. There was also floral rye and butterscotch. I encountered the brandy influence as I drew the air through my lips.  

 

Palate: Triple Sonoma Finish’s mouthfeel was thin and slick. The front featured apples, cherries, and spiced plums, whereas at the middle, I tasted milk chocolate, vanilla, and nutmeg. Flavors of honey, caramel, and oak formed the back.

 

Finish: Medium-to-long in duration, what remained were caramel, chocolate, nutmeg, cinnamon, toasted oak, honey, and plums.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: My first sip was not happy. I thought I pulled cherry Nyquil. But the second sip washed that all away. This is one of the reasons I always advise not to judge a whiskey on its first sip – it is a palate shock, and the second should give insight into the whiskey’s characteristics.

 

I was slightly surprised by the presence of honey. While I’m far from a wine expert, I don’t believe it is a byproduct of the wines or brandy. It also isn’t a note I connote with Woodford Reserve. However, it gave this Bourbon a well-rounded balance I believe could have been off-kilter if missing.

 

I enjoyed this pour. I’ll assume that the Bourbon’s inventory has already been exhausted by the time you're reading this. But, were I at Woodford’s gift shop and saw it on the shelf, I’d give it serious consideration. Because of its price, it walks that delicate tightwire between a Bottle and a Bar, and when that happens, I always tip the scale to the lower rating. As such, the Bar is the most appropriate. Cheers!

 

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.