About
Nestled amid the rolling hills of bluegrass and thoroughbred farms sits our historic Woodford Reserve Distillery. One of Kentucky’s oldest and smallest distilleries, the present day Woodford Reserve Distillery is built on history, sitting on Kentucky’s oldest distilling site where Elijah Pepper began crafting whiskey in 1812. It was on these same hallowed grounds that years later Master Distiller James Christopher Crow perfected his whiskey-making methods, which today have become common practice, including the implementation of sour mash into fermentation. The Distillery is home to a 500-foot-long gravity-fed barrel run, our iconic copper pot stills, and 100-year-old cypress wood fermenters. We also boast one of the only heat cycled barrelhouses in the world, ensuring every drop seeps into the charred and toasted white oak, giving Woodford Reserve its color and signature flavor.
Woodford Reserve always honors the best of Kentucky on Kentucky’s best day as the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby. And this year, in partnership with Churchill Downs, we are celebrating the Derby on May 1.
Join us in toasting the 147th Run for the Roses no matter where you are. Here are our favorite tips for celebrating Derby at home. Cheers!
It wouldn’t be the Kentucky Derby without the oldest and newest Derby traditions— the Mint Julep and the Woodford Spire. These cocktails, while easy to make, will surely elevate your celebration and are tried and true favorites.
Tasting Notes
NOSE: Citrus peel, star anise, and seared wood.
PALATE: Fresh, picks up more fruit tones of maraschino cherry and milk chocolate.
FINISH: Wood smoke, the dry, fresh.