Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Series 15 Chocolate Malted Rye, 45.2%

smallbatch owl13 Oct

Coffee and toasted rye bread give this bourbon a bold, direct character, with vanilla and cloves adding some balance. The bittersweet, tannic cocoa-powder finish sounds less easygoing, so it may suit someone looking for more edge than softness.

Coffee and barrel char give it a darker edge, while vanilla and cocoa powder add some contrast. The bittersweet, tannic finish sounds like a real reservation. There’s no clear smoke character to focus on here.

New charred oak is the clear cask detail, and the notes take a pleasingly dark turn: coffee and barrel char lead into licorice and cloves, with vanilla offering a softer counterpoint. The finish stays bittersweet and tannic, with cocoa powder rather than a sweet flourish. That gives this Woodford Reserve a distinct shape, though the drier ending may not suit anyone hoping for an easy, dessert-like rye. A lively set of contrasts, with enough bite to keep it interesting.

Coffee and toasted rye give this a cozy, bittersweet pull.

tidepoolwren27 May

The appeal here is the contrast of cloves and vanilla against dense coffee and licorice, with barrel char and toasted rye bread keeping the sweeter notes from dominating. The finish turns bittersweet and tannic, with cocoa-powder notes; that sounds more dry-edged than soft or rounded. I like the way the documented clove spice meets vanilla rather than standing alone, though the tannic finish could make this feel quite firm. A distinctive balance, if not an especially easygoing one.

smallbatch kettle31 Mar

Coffee, toasted rye bread, and cocoa give this a clear, appealing direction. The dense palate and tannic, bittersweet finish sound less gentle, but the flavour combination has character.

Dense coffee and licorice give this bourbon a bittersweet edge.