Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection No. 21 Sweet Oak Bourbon 700ml

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection No. 21 Sweet Oak Bourbon is the 21st release in Woodford Reserve’s limited-edition Masters Collection — a Kentucky straight bourbon from the signature 72/18/10 mash bill (corn/rye/malted barley) aged in specially selected barrels with a lighter toast and char than standard production, allowing the natural vanillin and sweet aromatic compounds of the wood to infuse the spirit directly rather than through the caramelized char layer, producing the honeycomb, maple, and baked apple profile that differentiates it from Woodford’s standard expression.

Woodford Reserve’s standard barrels use a standard #3 char — the char layer creates a charcoal filter that the spirit passes through during aging and produces the classic caramel and vanilla of most bourbon. The Sweet Oak uses a lighter toast and char that reduces this filtering effect, allowing the wood’s natural sugar compounds (vanillin, lactones) to transfer more directly into the spirit — producing a softer, sweeter, and more nuanced oak influence with pronounced honeycomb, maple syrup, and baked apple character rather than standard caramel and toasted oak. Bottled at 45.2% ABV (90.4 proof) in a 700ml format. Limited annual release.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Honeycomb, vanilla bean, toasted oak, caramelized sugar, and orchard fruit
• Palate: Maple syrup, baked apple, cinnamon, cocoa, toasted coconut, and sweet spice
• Finish: Long and warm — lingering vanilla, oak sweetness, and gentle spice

Specs

• Distillery: Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon — Master’s Collection No. 21
• Mash bill: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley
• Barrel: Lighter toast and char — natural vanillin focus
• ABV: 45.2% (90.4 Proof)
• Size: 700ml

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