Woodford Reserve Master's Collection 2025 Sweet Oak Bourbon

Woodford Reserve 2025 Sweet Oak Bourbon opens with mulled cherry, raisin, clove and nutmeg aromas, with leather and toasted oak behind them. The producer describes baking spice, sassafras, roasted walnut and black tea on the palate, followed by lingering oak, tea and dried dark fruit. For drinkers interested in barrel influence, this release offers a focused example of Woodford’s experiments with oak species.

Start with a small neat pour and allow a little time before returning to the aroma. A few drops of water offer a useful comparison at this strength; taste between additions to find your preferred balance of fruit, spice and tea. A plain walnut or shortbread biscuit is a pairing to try.

How it’s made: The twenty-first Master’s Collection release is a Kentucky straight bourbon aged in Chinkapin oak barrels. Released in 2025, it is bottled at 110.4 proof, or 55.2% ABV, in a 700 ml bottle.