The story of the Woodford Reserve 12-Year-Old American Single Malt whiskey begins, as most Kentucky whiskey stories do, with patience. In the cool rickhouses of Woodford Reserve, Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall quietly set aside a collection of barrels more than a decade ago. Not bourbon barrels in the strict sense — these were used whiskey casks, tasked with holding something different: 100% malted barley spirit, triple pot distilled, the sort of base material you’d expect from a Scottish hillside more than a Bluegrass valley.
How Woodford Reserve Crafted Its First Age-Stated American Single Malt
Now, after 12 years, those barrels have given up their charge in the form of Woodford Reserve’s newest Distillery Series release: a 12-Year-Old American Single Malt Whiskey. At 90.4 proof, it’s a measured pour, the age and the oak conspiring to create a lighter hue — burnt orange in the glass — and a layered palate where soft caramel, sweet nutty malt, and sun tea notes are threaded with ginger, clove, and a whisper of citrus.
Why This Release Matters for the American Single Malt Category
“I believe it’s one of the most authentic American Single Malts ever released — the first of its kind,” McCall said, pointing to the way time in used barrels has coaxed nuance rather than brute force. “Its lighter color and nuanced flavor profile demonstrate the importance of time.”
The Distillery Series was conceived as a kind of creative laboratory for Woodford Reserve — a place for experiments, outliers, and boundary-pushers. Previous releases have played with mash bills, finishes, and barrel types. This one feels like an assertion: that America can do single malt with as much grace and longevity as the Old World, if given the same patience.
Tasting Notes
Color: Burnt Orange
Aroma: Soft caramel, sun tea, and pear, with hints of lemon, ginger, and cardamom.
Flavor: Sweet nutty malt and caramel leading into sun tea with clove and lemon.
Finish: Long-lasting, with lingering sun tea and lemon oil.
Bottled in 375ml format, the 12-Year-Old American Single Malt carries an MSRP of $99.99 and is available in limited quantities at select Kentucky retailers and at the Woodford Reserve Distillery starting August 14. A small allotment can also be shipped to Kentucky, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Washington D.C. through the brand’s online store.
For more on the Distillery Series, visit the brand’s official website.
Last fall, Woodford Reserve added the Madeira Cask Finish to its Master’s Collection.
