Woodford Reserve Releases Fall 2023 Master's Collection Sonoma Triple Finish
A few weeks ago, Woodford Reserve announced its fall entry in the Master’s Collection, Sonoma Triple Finish. This release, if you can find it, retails for $149.99 per bottle.
The Master’s Collection is a set of releases where the Master Distiller experiments with different techniques and styles. This type of experimentation is normally only found at smaller distilleries, but has been recently adopted by the larger distilleries. For the large distilleries, it is a way to spur product innovation or even branch out to new segments in the market.
In this case, we have a finished bourbon. I admit, this causes me great concern. First, while I like Woodford Reserve products, they do not rank among my favorite. I find them very approachable, but not very complex.
Finished bourbon is also something I shy away from. This is mainly because most bourbon producers do not have the finishing experience that the scotch distillers have, thus creating oversaturated and unbalanced whiskey. There are exceptions of course, like the Baccarat Edition from Woodford Reserve that was a cognac finished bourbon, which was excellent.
With my concerns in mind, let’s take a look at the Sonoma Triple Finish.
This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by Woodford Reserve. This did not influence the final outcome of this review in any way.
Woodford Reserve Sonoma Triple Finish
Class: Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Price: $150
45.2% ABV (90.4 proof)
Barrels: Sonoma County pinot noir, brandy and ex-bourbon barrels used to age red wine
No Age Statement
Distilled, aged, and bottled by the Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY
Mashbill: 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley.
Nose: 86/100
Ripe cherries, cinnamon and vanilla greet you. A touch of ethanol lies beneath. Ripe plums and toasted oak sit at the edges.
Palate: 84/100
Soft and fruity. Ripe plums and cherries flow everywhere. Sweet like a red wine, and not overly cloying. Cinnamon, vanilla, and toasted oak lay the foundation.
Finish: 86/100
Starts with the wine and brandy influences of red grapes and ripe plums. Cherries and toasted oak linger in this slightly warm, medium-length finish.
Overall: 85/100
Recommendation: Worth buying a pour.
This is a whiskey that will invite arguments. For the proof, there is a decent amount of ethanol evident, which may deter novice drinkers. Oak is very apparent throughout the process, which means some people will love it. Lastly, finished whiskey is not for everyone, and a softer, fruity profile may not appeal to those who like bold and brash bourbon.
This really feels like a pour for scotch drinkers who like bourbon. There is a complexity to it that Woodford Reserve typically lacks which makes this very intriguing. The main problem, and why I can’t highly recommend it, is that it is going to be difficult to find and it is fairly expensive. If you find it at a local bar or through a friend, definitely give it a try.
