After Prohibition, the federal government permitted four styles of American straight whiskey, each with a different majority grain – bourbon, rye, wheat and malt. Woodford Reserve now has all four whiskeys as part of its permanent family of brands. Their rye showcases that beloved herbal and spicy grain, but only barely at 53%, with corn and malted barley making up 33% and 14%, respectively.

The result is a lighter, subtler, sweeter take on the traditionally herbal and spicy spirit. The nose greets you quite lightly with pears, apples, and new oak barely teasing their aromas. On the palate, there is more of the pear and apple character, along with the arrival of the telltale rye spice, though it is certainly genteel and tamed compared to many of today's Rye-bombs. Vanilla and honey are present throughout, its really a bit of a sweetheart. The finish toughens things up a bit with some wonderfully bracing pepper and leather alongside oak and more crisp fresh fruit. Bottled at 90.4 proof.

Whiskey