Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall has released the 19th edition in the series, bourbon finished in Pinot Noir, Brandy, and former Bourbon barrels used to age red wine
The result is a whisky that brings together the worlds of bourbon and wine in a way unlike any we’ve released before.
Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall
Woodford Reserve has announced the fall 2023 Master’s Collection release – Sonoma Triple Finish. The whiskey is a rich, fruity, vanilla and spice-forward expression of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
Woodford Reserve Distillery first introduced the Master’s Collection, a new era of innovation to the historic Kentucky bourbon industry, in 2004 with the first release of its Master’s Collection, “Four Grain”.
The 2023 Master’s Collection was made with a unique blend of Woodford Reserve that has been finished in Sonoma County Pinot Noir, Brandy, and former Bourbon barrels used to age red wine. For this release, Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall drew upon previous creative Master’s Collection releases and the brand’s continued product experimentation for inspiration. The product is available for $149.99 at Woodford Reserve Distillery in limited quantities starting at October 17 – and at select retailers globally.
Tasting Notes:
- Color: Burnt Sienna.
- Aroma: Vanilla and cinnamon dusted grilled pineapple slices and red plum fruit.
- Taste: Vine and red fruit warmed with rich vanilla bean and oak notes.
- Finish: Long oak and red grape tannins.
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.
Finishing is a process where fully-mature Woodford is placed for a year or longer in a second barrel, sourced from a different spirits/wine producer. This brings enhanced flavors and depth to the whiskey, and picks up flavor notes from that second barrel.
Many wineries age their red wines in used Woodford Reserve barrels, creating a new “Bourbon Barrel Aged” genre. Wines aged in spirit barrels have become more popular as this technique results in distinct flavors and aromas.
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