In the 1830s the Woodford County distillery was the setting for a series of discoveries and innovative practices that would define the bourbon industry for generations to come. Today that pioneering and innovative tradition is embodied in the Woodford Reserve Distillery's Master's Collection. A tradition beginning when Master Distiller James Crow joined distillery owner Oscar Pepper to create the first true Kentucky bourbon whiskies. This year’s expression marks the 15th release of the Master’s Collection, which was created to honour the many discoveries and innovations that occurred at the 1812 distillery site where Woodford Reserve is now located. Starting with the 2020 edition, all future master’s collections will focus on modern innovation by Morris and McCall. “The name Very Fine Rare Bourbon is a nod to the descriptors used by our ancestors to auction highly-aged Bourbon barrel lots,” Morris said. “While Woodford Reserve will always honor the past, this Master’s Collection is about the present and future.” The bourbon includes liquid from barrels that are 17 years old and date to 2003, the year Chris Morris was named Master Distiller. Morris and McCall have been holding back the barrels to batch with other barrels for a special release. This Very Fine Rare Bourbon Whiskey has a burnt Sienna colouring. Layers of rich oak sweet aromatic notes, caramel, brown sugar, chocolate, vanilla merge into a cured tobacco character brightened with apple fruit. Very old oak notes sweetened with honey balanced by a touch of citrus and apple peel and a touch of clove spice. A long finish of raisin fruit and malty sweetness finish.

For this 2023 release, Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall has drawn upon prior creative releases and continued product experimentation for inspiration. In 2014, the Master’s Collection 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. At the same time, many wineries began to age their red wines in used Woodford Reserve barrels to create a new “Bourbon Barrel Aged” genre. These wines featured rich vanilla and caramel notes. This inspired Elizabeth to experiment with various combinations of the three— including finishing Woodford Reserve in Sonoma County wine barrels that had originally been used to mature Woodford Reserve. The result, Sonoma Triple Finish, is a unique blend of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey that has been finished in Sonoma County Pinot Noir, Brandy, and former Bourbon barrels used to age red wine. Sonoma Triple Finish is a rich, fruity, vanilla and spice-forward expression of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Michters is Americas first distilling company, dating back to 1753 when they started out making rye whiskey. They take a 'Cost Be Damned' approach to the production of every barrel, using various methods including air drying their barrels for 36 months, toasting the barrels before charring them, using a low barrel-entry strength, heat cycling to encourage ageing during the frigid winters and using specific filtration types for each whiskey they make.

Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has been hand-picked by Paul and Steve Beam, and is a marriage of two high-rye Kentucky straight bourbon whiskies, one aged four years and another aged seven years.Yellowstone Select bourbon has spicy aromas of rye toast and cinnamon spice, which lead to a palate filled with caramel, melted butter and leathered cherries. The finish is slightly tangy, with additional notes of burnt brown sugar and cloves

Originally distilled in 1795, Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is an icon. Distilled using only the finest products, Jim Beam continues to be at the top of its class today.

Wild Turkey Rare Breed is a Barrel Proof Bourbon, meaning no water is added to reduce the level of alcohol during the bottling process. This method captures its rich pure Bourbon flavour. Medium to full-bodied with a nose of spring flowers balanced by a touch of black pepper and almonds.

Named for the finery one would wear for special occasions back in the day, the six-year-aged Bib & Tucker bourbon has a nose of antiques, new saddle leather, chamomile-soaked butterscotch drops and warm cinnamon-kissed cedar. If that doesn't bring up images of Americana, the flavour profile mirrors the nose, urging on that sense of peace, harmony and balance: all the good things you taste and should feel, while sipping a great 92-proof bourbon. Aroma: BIB & TUCKER leads with a strong vanilla scent along with fresh-cut sweet grass, wet stone and old leatherbound books. Taste: With a smooth entry, the bourbon is nicely balanced with a hint of sweetness. It fulfills the promise of its nose before evolving into a warm, lightly crisp, spicy sensation. Finish: BIB & TUCKER lingers in the mouth with a complex, yet balanced chestnutty taste.

Rich gold in colour, Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit displays rich aromas of fruit, smooth caramel and delectable hints of spice and pepper. Vanilla, toffee and oak swim on the palate with a dry, citrus finish. Best enjoyed neat or on the rocks.

In 1869, The Ripy family built the foundations of what is known today as the Wild Turkey Bourbon distillery. Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Bourbon is still produced using the same traditional technique, handcrafted by Master Distiller Eddie Russell alongside his father Jimmy Russell. Combined, the pair have over 97 years of experience and are the only active father and son Master Distiller team in the world. Rare Breed is abarrel-proof bourbon meaning it is bottled directly from a variety of barrels at the proof it reaches in those barrels with no added water to lower the proof or dilute the flavour. This bourbon is a unique marriage of Wild Turkey 6 to and 12-year-olod stocks, which give the whiskey a rich exceptional flavour that is remarkably smooth considering its high alcohol content.