A little background

In celebration of Bourbon Heritage Month, Woodford Reserve released the limited-edition Honey Barrel Finished bourbon as part of their annual Distillery Series. As the name suggests, this new product is Woodford Reserve Bourbon finished in barrels that once stored honey. According to Woodford Reserve, this expression demonstrates the versatility of a bourbon barrel – and the ability to recycle them for multiple uses. Honey Barrel Finish is available in 375ml bottles at 90.4 Proof. It is available for an SRP of $59.99 at the Woodford Reserve Distillery’s gift shop and at select Kentucky retailers.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Gold

Nose

Baking spice, citrus, graham cracker crust, and honey.

Palate

Honey, baking spice, and lemon citrus.

Finish

Chocolate, malt, oak, and coffee.

In closing

Woodford Reserve Honey Barrel Finished bourbon is one of the first honey finished releases that didn’t leave me feeling as though I was drinking a flavored bourbon. The honey that this bourbon picked up is subtle, not overpowering in the slightest. The nose carries some classic Woodford notes, along with of course some honey sweetness. The palate and finish are where I think things get really interesting. There is a good amount of baking spice throughout, leading to some very prominent chocolate and malt notes on the finish. With this being a (very) limited release, I feel as though the price tag of $60 bucks is fair.

NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Woodford Reserve. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.