‘Tis the season. Whiskey followers the world over are eagerly awaiting the numerous particular releases able to hit cabinets as the vacations strategy. A perennial favourite amongst them is the Master’s Collection from Woodford Reserve. This annual one-off provides grasp distiller Chris Morris the chance to mess around with every little thing from the corn to the cask.
Some really distinctive liquids have arrived within the bottle over the previous few years, together with the 2019 Chocolate Malted Rye, which, regardless of its title is definitely a bourbon containing 15% of the namesake grain in opposition to its high-corn mashbill. Though the tasting notes of the ensuing spirit embrace cocoa powder, caramel and shortbread biscuits, there isn’t a precise confection to be discovered right here. Only a wealthy and roasty dram that continues to be in excessive demand as of late.
Followers of the unique expression must be aware of Woodford’s latest providing, Chocolate Malt Whisper. Though this limited-edition bottle is not a part of the aforementioned Grasp’s Assortment, it’s—in some methods—a sister launch to that exact same 2019 Chocolate Malted Rye.
Darkish roasted malted rye, it seems, has a method of leaving its mark on the manufacturing line. This contains the fermenter and even the nonetheless. The best way we all know it’s because the Chocolate Malt Whisper is the the wash that was laid down within the nonetheless straight after the Chocolate Malted Rye run. It nonetheless wore a few of the similar roasty, chocolate notes in that subsequent run, and Morris was too smitten with the consequence to ever take into account it a mistake.
“Generally unexpected developments happen within the distillery that lead to nice flavors,” he says. “That is a type of circumstances.”
File this one underneath “completely satisfied accident,” because the liquid itself is a dessert dram of great stature. Citrus zest and melted cocoa powder on the nostril are ultimately overrun by darkish chocolate and barely smoky celebrations on the again palate. Simply don’t get too into these flavors. As a result of as a part of the nascent Distillery Collection, produced in extraordinarily restricted portions, this can be a bottling which you can count on to maneuver quick because the festive moods draw close to. Even with a prompt retail price ticket of $50—for a half-size bottle (375 ml).
Together with assistant grasp distiller Elizabeth McCall, Morris is discovering much more shops for playfulness of their Distillery Collection. He describes it as a solution to push the inventive boundaries of whiskey to the acute. That is the second of three such entries for the calendar 12 months of 2021. And for this explicit instance, you’ll should be within the Bluegrass State to take pleasure in it most instantly. It’s obtainable solely on the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky—in addition to at choose retailers scattered in regards to the state. To test on availability, bear in mind: the web is your buddy. And so is the essence of chocolate in your bourbon. Pour accordingly.
LOUISVILLE, KY – MAY 04: A bottle of Woodford Reserve is on show on the Woodford reserve sales space … [+]
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