Woodford Reserve has become one of the most recognizable bourbons in the country. It shows up in cocktail bars, home collections, and bourbon clubs. People reach for it because it tastes balanced and refined. The surprise is that many fans have only a faint idea of how it is produced.
Learning the process makes the bourbon more interesting. It explains why Woodford Reserve tastes the way it does. It also highlights the care that goes into each bottle. This guide walks through the major steps with verified information that is easy to follow.
If you want to understand the whiskey behind the label, you are in the right place.
Where Woodford Reserve Is Made
The journey starts in Versailles, Kentucky. The Woodford Reserve Distillery sits in Woodford County, only a short drive from Lexington. The surrounding landscape is quiet and rural. Horses graze nearby. Limestone buildings frame the distillery yard. It is one of the most photographed stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
The site has a long history. Distilling began here in 1812. Later, it became known as the Labrot and Graham Distillery. The original stone structures still stand today. They are now recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
Location matters in bourbon. Kentucky sits on a limestone shelf. The rock filters spring water and removes iron. At the same time, it adds minerals that support healthy fermentation. Woodford Reserve draws water from springs on the property. The region’s climate also plays a role. Hot summers and cold winters push the whiskey in and out of the oak as it ages. All of this gives Woodford Reserve a strong sense of place. It tastes like a Kentucky bourbon because it is shaped by Kentucky itself.
Who Makes Woodford Reserve?
Woodford Reserve is produced by Brown Forman. The company restored the distillery in the 1990s and introduced the modern brand in 1996. Brown Forman is based in Louisville and is one of the most established spirits groups in the United States, and also owns Jack Daniel’s.
The distilling process happens on-site in Woodford County. The team works with copper pot stills that operate in small batches. These stills shape a rich and aromatic spirit. Woodford Reserve is one of the few major bourbon distilleries that triple distills its pot still spirit. The distillery also uses column still spirit produced at a Brown Forman facility in Louisville. The two styles are blended before the whiskey goes into barrels. This is what creates Woodford Reserve’s familiar mix of sweetness, spice, and depth.
The Master Distiller is Elizabeth McCall. She took the role in 2023 after years of working beside Chris Morris. Chris now holds the title of Master Distiller Emeritus. Elizabeth oversees the entire process. She guides fermentation, distillation, barrel selection, and sensory analysis. Her background in research helps maintain a consistent flavor profile.
The distillery is larger than many craft producers, yet the process still feels personal. The team works on the same historic grounds every day. They rely on hands-on techniques, long fermentation, and careful blending. The result is a bourbon shaped by experience rather than automation.
Who Owns Woodford Reserve?
Woodford Reserve is owned by Brown Forman. The company has been part of Kentucky’s spirits landscape since the 1800s. It remains family-controlled, and its portfolio includes some of the most well-known American whiskeys.
Ownership is often a point of curiosity among bourbon drinkers. Some want to know if Woodford Reserve is an independent craft product. Others want to understand how much influence a parent company has. In this case, ownership supports the whiskey rather than reshapes it.
Brown Forman bought the old Labrot and Graham Distillery site in the 1940s. It later sold the property, then repurchased it in the 1990s with a plan to restore the buildings and relaunch the site. That decision led to the Woodford Reserve we know today. The company invested in new copper pot stills and rebuilt the facility around its historical footprint. This is why the distillery looks and feels like a preserved piece of Kentucky history rather than a modern plant.
The company also brings something rare to the table. Brown Forman operates its own cooperage. That means it produces many of the barrels used for aging. Few bourbon producers have that level of control over their wood.
What Woodford Reserve Is Made From
Woodford Reserve starts with a mash bill that leans into both sweetness and spice. The recipe uses 72 percent corn, 18 percent rye, and 10 percent malted barley.
Each grain plays a clear role. Corn gives bourbon its classic sweetness and full body. Rye brings sharper notes like pepper and baking spice. Malted barley helps with fermentation and adds a gentle nutty character. The balance of these three grains sets the foundation for Woodford Reserve’s flavor.
Fermentation at Woodford Reserve takes longer than usual. The mash ferments for about six days. A slower fermentation allows more flavor compounds to form. The distillery uses a proprietary yeast strain. It is not publicly disclosed, but the team has used it for years to maintain a steady profile.
These simple ingredients form the base. Grain, water, and yeast. The quality of each one influences the final whiskey. Woodford Reserve’s team sticks to a traditional recipe yet relies on precise control to shape the flavors that show up in the glass.
How Long Woodford Reserve Is Aged
Woodford Reserve does not display an age statement on the bottle. Even so, the whiskey inside is not young. Most barrels mature for about six to seven years before they are blended and bottled. The timeline appears in independent product reviews from sources like Distiller, which notes a typical range of six to seven years for the core bourbon.
The aging takes place in new charred American oak barrels. This is required for bourbon, but Woodford Reserve adds an extra layer of control. The distillery uses heat-cycled warehouses during colder months. The team warms the buildings in winter. This pushes the whiskey into the oak and speeds the interaction between spirit and wood. It also helps keep the flavor development steady from season to season.
The lack of an age statement gives the team flexibility. They are not tied to a single number. Instead, they select barrels for flavor. A batch can include barrels above or below the average age if it helps maintain the profile. This approach is common among premium Kentucky bourbons, where consistency matters as much as maturity.
The result is a whiskey that tastes balanced and developed. The six-to-seven-year range puts Woodford Reserve above the legal minimum for straight bourbon and into a window where oak influence, sweetness, and spice have time to round out. It is young enough to stay vibrant and old enough to carry depth.
What Proof Is Woodford Reserve?
Woodford Reserve is bottled at 90.4 proof. That equals 45.2 percent alcohol by volume. The number appears on every label and is part of the brand’s identity. It sits between easy-drinking bourbons at 80 proof and higher-strength releases that climb past 100 proof.
The proof level shapes the experience. At 90.4 proof, the whiskey feels warm but not sharp. Many drinkers enjoy it neat. Others prefer a splash of water to open the aromas. The strength also works well in cocktails because it holds its character without overpowering other ingredients.
Understanding proof can help new bourbon drinkers. In the United States, proof is double the alcohol by volume. A whiskey at 45.2 percent alcohol becomes 90.4 proof. This is different from old British proof measurements, so ABV is the clearer number for international readers.
Conclusion
Woodford Reserve earns its reputation through a mix of history, technique, and place. The distillery sits on one of the oldest whiskey-making sites in Kentucky. The team works with long fermentation, copper pot stills, and careful blending. The ingredients come from trusted sources, and the aging takes place in heat-cycled warehouses that shape the flavor over time.
Everything comes together in a bourbon that feels rooted in Kentucky. It reflects the limestone water, the seasonal climate, the grain recipe, and the experience of the people who make it. That is why Woodford Reserve appeals to beginners and enthusiasts alike. It is consistent, thoughtful, and easy to appreciate.
If you want to explore more about bourbon production or compare Woodford Reserve with other Kentucky whiskeys, take a look at our related guides.
Read the full article at How Is Woodford Reserve Made: The Complete Guide
