Woodford Reserve Sonoma Triple Finish is a part of the brand’s Master Collection series, an annual release that revels in the delectable innovation of whiskey finished in former Bourbon barrels, as well as Pinot Noir and Brandy barrels sourced from Sonoma County wineries. Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall says in a prepared statement that the Woodford Reserve Sonoma Triple Finish “is a whisky that brings together the worlds of bourbon and wine in a way unlike any we’ve released before,”

The Woodford Reserve Distillery is a National Historic Landmark, first established in 1812 in Versailles, Kentucky and is probably one of the more well-known brands on the market today. There’s a certain amount of comfort in a familiar name, much like a film I’ll put on in the background, watching for the hundredth time. Luckily, reliability doesn’t always mean doldrums, and Woodford Reserve is one of those special distillers who work hard to innovate and update.

The Woodford Reserve Sonoma Triple Finish is the perfect sippable spirit for a cold night curled up by a warm fire. If you’re like me, you’ll throw on a classic horror film, maybe a Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece like Psycho, one that will make you cling to that Glencairn a little tighter, and appreciate the beauty of a classic that really hold up over time, just like Woodford Reserve.

Aesthetic:

The whiskey is the color of burnt cedar.

Aroma:

A strong ethanol comes through before the whiskey opens. Once it sits for a minute or two, the aroma gives way to a sweet, dark cherry, some autumnal spice, cardamom and ginger, as well a spicier note, like a clove.

Palate:

This expression presents a classic Woodford bourbon flavor profile, while really benefiting from the wine barrel finish, giving some nice tannins on the finish. I got a combination of savory and slightly sweet, with the sweet notes giving toasted pecan and peach, as well as some bitterness, reminding me of green tea and anise. The whiskey packs some good heat and presents stronger than its mellow proof.

Rating: 🥃🥃🥃🥃/5

Suggested Cocktail:

The Bates Motel

2 oz. Woodford Reserve Sonoma Triple Finish Bourbon
.25 oz. orange-infused simple syrup
2 dashes of orange bitters
 large ice cube
orange peel

**This whiskey was provided as a review sample by those who created and released it. My reviews are my own, and I tell it how I taste it.**