Woodford Reserve Straight Malt Whiskey

Woodford Reserve Straight Malt Whiskey — a Kentucky straight malt whiskey built on a 51% malted barley mash bill, the fourth permanent expression in the Woodford lineup and designed specifically to amplify the nutty, chocolatey characteristics already present in the standard Distiller's Select while appealing directly to bourbon drinkers who want to explore the malt category.

American malt whiskey sits in a distinct category: aged in new charred oak (like bourbon) rather than the used cooperage of Scotch, with the malted barley grain driving a flavor profile distinct from corn-based spirits. Woodford's approach to the category is characteristically bourbon-centric: the 51% malt is supported by 47% corn and 2% rye, aged in new charred oak barrels through the same process as the rest of the Woodford lineup, bottled at the same 90.4 proof. The result is a malt whiskey that tastes immediately familiar to Woodford bourbon drinkers while offering a distinctly different grain character — more nutty, more cocoa, more stone fruit, less corn sweetness.

Released in 2018 as a permanent core expression, Straight Malt represents Woodford's creative approach to expanding what Kentucky whiskey can be without abandoning the house style that defines the brand.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Soft nutty notes drizzled with light caramel and milk chocolate; apple, dried fruit, and tropical fruit; hints of brown spice, savory mint, and brown sugar with freshly milled toasted oak
• Palate: Stone fruit, sweet overripe banana, and caramel-coated nuts; baking chocolate, baking spices, toffee, and brown sugar; the corn in the mash bill maintains a familiar buttery Woodford softness beneath the malt character
• Finish: Dark chocolate and caramel-coated nuts dried out with cocoa powder and brown spice; warm and medium-length with a subtle herbal note

Specs

• Distillery: Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey
• Mash Bill: 51% malted barley, 47% corn, 2% rye
• Maturation: New charred oak barrels (same process as bourbon lineup)
• ABV: 45.2% (90.4 Proof)
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Is this like Scotch single malt? No — Woodford Straight Malt is aged in new charred American oak barrels, not used cooperage. The malted barley grain is the same, but the production and aging approach is American: caramel-forward, higher proof, and distinctly Kentucky in character.
• How does it compare to the Woodford Reserve Bourbon? Same distillery and production process, different grain recipe. The malt whiskey is nuttier, more chocolatey, and has more stone fruit character where the bourbon leads with caramel, vanilla, and citrus. The corn percentage keeps the malt from reading as dramatically different — it is an evolution of the Woodford profile, not a departure from it.
• What cocktails work with Woodford Malt? Manhattan is the natural home — the nutty, chocolate, and dark fruit character works beautifully alongside sweet vermouth and bitters. Rob Roy is also an excellent application for the malt-forward character.