Woodford Reserve Distillery

My husband and I toured the Woodford Reserve Distillery on February 10th for our ten year anniversary.  It's located in Versailles, KY and is a National Historic Landmark.  While this is one of Kentucky's oldest distilleries, the Woodford Reserve brand is actually quite young.  It was introduced in 1996 under master distiller Lincoln Henderson.  Chris Morris took the reigns as master distiller in 2003.  Please keep in mind, this blog is a hobby and I am not a bourbon expert.

The drive to the distillery is gorgeous!  Tourists get to see thoroughbred country firsthand as they approach Woodford Reserve.  I think these two were posing for visitors.

We took the 1-hour Distillery Tour.  There were only 4 others in addition to us and we didn't make reservations.  After our tour guide's bourbon requirements spiel, our first stop was the mash and fermenting area, which smelled wonderful.  They use cypress fermenters with cooling coils to make the beer.  I liked the tasting process here - it's much more sanitary than dipping your fingers in a shared container!

Next, we looked at the distillation process.  The liquid runs through the low wine, high wine, and spirit stills.  The three towering copper pot stills were so stately against the stone walls!  I also loved the look of the spirit safe.  It's easy to see why this place is a historical landmark.

This distillery is truly a work of art!  I'm so glad Brown-Forman purchased it again and restored it to its original splendor.  I was really enthralled with the barrel run.  Once the barrels leave the still house, they effortlessly roll to the storage warehouse.

The barrelhouse is equally impressive.  The aroma hits you the second you step foot inside the limestone walls.  The natural light pouring in on row after row of barrels is quite a sight!

Our final stop was the tasting room.  We had the Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon and the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked.  The WRDO is one of my top three favorite bourbons.  We paired it with the chocolate, which helped bring out the sweetness.  On our way out, we picked up two bottles of Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked.  I haven't tried it yet, but hear it's good!

Overall, I feel that the Woodford Reserve Distillery allows for an escape to the countryside where one can experience the art and history of distilling.