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Woodford Reserve

Coordinates: 38°6′46″N 84°48′43″W / 38.11278°N 84.81194°W / 38.11278; -84.81194
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Woodford Reserve
TypeBourbon whiskey
ManufacturerBrown-Forman
Country of origin Kentucky, United States
Alcohol by volume 45.20%
Proof (US)90.4
Related productsBrown-Forman
Websitewoodfordreserve.com Edit this on Wikidata
Labrot and Graham's Old Oscar Pepper Distillery
Woodford Reserve is located in Kentucky
Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve is located in the United States
Woodford Reserve
Map
Interactive map showing the location of Labrot and Graham’s Old Oscar Pepper Distillery
Nearest cityVersailles, Kentucky
Coordinates38°6′46″N 84°48′43″W / 38.11278°N 84.81194°W / 38.11278; -84.81194
Area72 acres (29 ha) (landmarked area)
Built1838
Architectural styleMid 19th Century Revival, Late Victorian, Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals
NRHP reference No.95001272[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 7, 1995
Designated NHLDMay 15, 2000

Woodford Reserve is a brand of premium small batch Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced in Woodford County, Kentucky, by the Brown-Forman Corporation. It is made from a mixture of copper pot still spirits produced at the company's Woodford Reserve Distillery, and column still spirits from the Brown Forman Distillery in Shively, Kentucky.[2] Each 45.2% alcohol by volume (90.4 US Proof) bottle bears a unique batch and bottle number. The brand was introduced in 1996. Domestic sales of Woodford Reserve surpassed one million cases in 2021.[3]

History

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The Woodford Reserve Distillery, formerly known as the Old Oscar Pepper Distillery and later the Labrot & Graham Distillery, is approximately eight miles from the town of Versailles in north-central Kentucky, off U.S. Route 60 between Interstate 64 and Versailles.

Distilling began on the site of the current day distillery in 1812.[4] Although the site has not been continuously operational as a distillery since, the main structure, built in 1838, stands as one of the oldest distilleries in Kentucky. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is designated as a National Historic Landmark for its well-preserved distillery architecture and its role in the development of the bourbon industry.[4]

Originally established by Elijah Pepper, the distillery was passed on to his son and known as the Oscar Pepper Distillery when James C. Crow worked there in the mid-19th century. During this time Crow undertook a series of activities that improved and codified the understanding and quality of key bourbon-making processes such as sour mash fermentation, pot still distillation and barrel maturation.[4]: 24  After Oscar Pepper died in 1867 the distillery was passed to his son James E. Pepper. The Pepper family sold the property to Leopold Labrot and James Graham in 1878, who owned and operated it (except during Prohibition) until it was sold to the Brown-Forman Corporation in 1941. Brown-Forman operated it until the late 1960s, then sold the property and its accompanying acreage to a local farmer. Brown-Forman re-purchased the property in 1993, refurbished it, and brought it back into operation. The Woodford Reserve brand was introduced to the market in 1996. The distillery was renamed Woodford Reserve Distillery in 2004.[5]

The distillery produces: Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, Woodford Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey, Woodford Reserve Straight Malt Whiskey, and Woodford Reserve Wheat Whiskey. It also distills some limited edition releases, including Woodford Reserve Master's Collection, Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Batch Proof, a Kentucky-only Distillery Series, and a special commemorative bottle it releases annually in conjunction with its official sponsorship of the Kentucky Derby.

Master Distiller

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Up until 2023, the Master Distiller of Woodford Reserve was Chris Morris (a position he held from 2003) and the Assistant Master Distiller was Elizabeth McCall.[6][7][8]

In 2023, Elizabeth McCall was named Master Distiller of Woodford Reserve with Chris Morris to serve as Master Distiller Emeritus.[9] McCall had been with Brown-Forman since 2009, and was previously the Woodford Reserve Assistant Master Distiller.[9]

Reviews and accolades

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International Spirit ratings organizations and liquor review bodies have generally given Woodford Reserve solid scores. At the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Woodford Reserve's best performances have been in 2005 and 2013, winning a double gold medal each time. It has also won gold (2006–2007, 2011–2012) and silver (2008, 2010) medals at this annual event. The Beverage Testing Institute has given the Reserve scores of between 90 and 91 and Wine Enthusiast awarded it a 90–95 point rating.[10] Spirits ratings aggregator proof66.com, which averages scores from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Wine Enthusiast, the Beverage Testing Institute, and others, had Woodford Reserve ranked in its highest ("Tier 1") scoring category until 2016, and subsequently had it ranked as "Tier 2."[10]

Union busting

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In April 2024, a judge with the National Labor Relations Board found that Woodford Reserve had engaged in unfair labor practices in violation of the National Labor Relations Act by timing changes in merit pay and vacation policies, as well as handing out bottles of whiskey to workers, in order to influence the outcome of a unionization vote at its distillery in Versailles, Kentucky.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. ^ "Behind the Scenes of Woodford Reserve". www.drinkspirits.com. September 13, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  3. ^ Banaag, Juan (March 16, 2022). "The bourbon whiskey market continues to increase". Lane Report. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "NHL nomination for Labrot and Graham's Old Oscar Pepper Distillery". National Park Service. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  5. ^ Zoeller, Chester (2009). Bourbon in Kentucky: A History of Distilers in Kentucky. Butler Books. p. 213. ISBN 978-1-884532-97-9.
  6. ^ Bleier, Evan (May 27, 2020). "Workspace 101: Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris Shows Us His Kentucky Office". InsideHook. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  7. ^ "Forty Under 40: Elizabeth McCall". Louisville Business First. September 25, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  8. ^ Risen, Clay (July 11, 2021). "In the male world of whiskey, more women are calling the shots". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Kilgore-Marchetti, Nino (February 6, 2023). "Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Role Now Belongs To Elizabeth McCall". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Proof66.com's Summary Page for Woodford Reserve". Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  11. ^ Schreiner, Bruce (April 10, 2024). "Woodford Reserve tried to undermine unionization effort at its Kentucky distillery, judge rules". AP News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
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