Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey

During Derby week, I had the amazing opportunity to visit the Brown-Forman suite at Churchill Downs for a day of bourbon and horse racing. Seriously, who could turn down that combo? 

The Woodford Reserve Suite at Churchill Downs. Shop the Draper James Throw here.

The tasting event was held on the Wednesday before Derby, a day which I hope never gains a nickname as "cute" as Thurby, and which still retains the charm of a locals' day at the track. As Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris and Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall poured cups for tasting, we learned that a group of bourbon media professionals had been assembled for the first tasting of Woodford's new Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey, a product which will be available for purchase in some markets as early as next month.

If you ever have the chance to attend a Woodford Reserve whiskey tasting, you owe it to yourself to participate. The Woodford team puts so much care into the details -- whether they're doing the signature flavor wheel food pairing exercise or a comparative whiskey tasting, as we experienced on this occasion. Mr. Morris took care to explain that all four expressions in the brand's whiskey  portfolio -- Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, Woodford Reserve Rye, and Woodford Reserve Malt -- were comprised of the same three grains: corn, rye, and malted barley and are bottled at 90.4 proof. Of course, the percentage of grains in the individual mash bills as well as the special finishing process in the case of Double Oaked are what produce such distinct flavors in the different distillates.

We started with the original WR expression, the bourbon as a baseline spirit for tasting. We followed with my favorite expression in Woodford's portfolio, Double Oaked. The Double Oaked is traditional Woodford juice that, upon maturation has been finished in a second charred oak barrel. This produces more of the sweet caramel notes for which the brand is famous. I love this one as a sipping whiskey or as an after-dinner "dessert" drink, as it has prominent brown sugar notes; it's sweet without ever becoming cloying.

Next on the tasting menu was Woodford Reserve Rye. This one is Bob's go-to cocktail whiskey; it makes a fine Manhattan, sour, or Old-Fashioned. It's peppery and earthy, but doesn't enter into the high-rye herbaceous "bite" that so many ryes often display.  We consider it the "house whiskey" of HerKentucky Headquarters; I love the idea that this rye whiskey is made from Brown-Forman's pre-Prohibition recipe.

Elizabeth McCall leads a tasting of Woodford Reserve whiskeys

Then it was time for a sip of the new malt product. This one was fascinating, y'all. It had a lot of the characteristics of traditional Woodford bourbon, but was somehow lighter. The nose was strong with notes of cherry and almond. The mouthfeel was quite different from any of the other whiskeys we tasted that day; I felt a strong evaporation on the front of my tongue, somewhere between the sweet and salty tasting zones. I think that the Straight Malt expression will make a really interesting whiskey for mixologists; it will create some unique cocktails!

Mr. Morris made the very important distinction that this whiskey is not to be considered in the class of single malt Scotch whiskeys, but rather it is an experimental expression of American whiskey. Elizabeth led us through the tasting notes, as you can see in the video below.

Elizabeth and I also had a chance to chat about some of our favorite Draper James pieces. She was featured on the brand's Love, Reese blog as part of the Real Women, Real Clothes series, and partnered with Draper James on her Derby Week looks. How perfect is that partnership? We posed for  a #draperjamesgirl photo as the event wrapped up.

Draper James Girls at the track. Shop Elizabeth's dress and my dress. (My fascinator is c/o Off Broadway Shoes and my necklace is from Elva Fields.)

Thanks so much to Woodford Reserve for an amazingly relaxing and educational Derby Week event! Cheers, y'all!

A Summer Evening with Woodford Reserve and Ben Sollee

A couple of weeks ago, my lovely friend Elizabeth McCall, Master Taster at Woodford Reserve, invited a group of our friends to visit the Distillery for a lovely summer evening of food, drinks, and music. It was the perfect Kentucky summer evening!

We started with a tour of the Distillery, where we learned about the grains -- corn, rye, and malted barley -- that go into the Woodford Reserve mash bill. We also learned a little about the yeast fermentation process, the distillation, and the maturation in charred barrels. One of my favorite things about distillery tours is the way that a very standardized process varies in small ways -- grain varietals, yeast recipes, wood type -- to produce very different bourbons. I always learn a little something new, even at distilleries I've visited before. This time, Elizabeth explained the barley-malting process to me!

Another fun fact I learned on this tour is that while we typically assume that all Kentucky bourbon stills were produced by Louisville-based Vendome Copper & Brass Works, the iconic triple stills at Woodford Reserve were actually produced by Scotland's Forsyths of Rothes, the company that produces stills for many famous Scotch whiskeys. The Woodford Reserve stills had recently been shined up and were extra-pretty for our tour!

There's nothing like a trip through a rickhouse. Getting a whiff of the "angel's share" just never gets old! 

We then sat down to an amazing dinner prepared by Woodford Reserve chef de cuisine Nat Henton who is, in the words of Ouita Michel, Woodford's chef in residence, "one hell of a chef." The four course meal didn't disappoint. Shrimp and grits made a perfect appetizer, while the greek salad with local heirloom tomatoes and a Woodford Rye-infused salad dressing was amazing. The main course was osso bucco with a Woodford Reserve jus and, in the most creative and tongue-in-cheek touch, a Woodford Reserve Mash Bill risotto! We finished with a dessert of Midway Bakery Lemon Love, a light and delicious lemon curd pie. The entire evening was paired with cocktail and wine selections -- very well-timed and moderated for responsible enjoyment and flavor enhancement! After the event, Elizabeth introduced our group to Chef Nat; he was so cool and humble, and we learned that his family farm is on the road to Woodford Reserve!

One of the coolest touches of the evening was that Kentucky native singer-songwriter-cellist Ben Sollee provided music for the event. Ben actually had dinner at our table. It was so wonderful to talk with Ben, he's so funny and personable and knowledgeable. We had a really great conversation about the problematic origins of My Old Kentucky Home, and how the song has evolved. I may have embarrassed a couple of my dining companions by asking Ben what holler his family is originally from; turns out that his roots are in Whitley County's hollers!

As Ben played our state song, I sipped on our after-dinner drink, Woodford Reserve Double-Oaked, and thought of my own Kentucky Home in the hollers of Floyd County. I thought of my grandfather, who played old-timey mountain music on a Martin guitar. Maybe I just had my grandpa, who always kept those little yellow butterscotch candies around, on my mind, or maybe the temperature hit the whiskey differently. Whatever the reason, I pulled a really strong butterscotch note for the very first time on the Double-Oaked, a bourbon I've tried several times before. It was truly a perfect Kentucky evening!

Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Party

Catstudio Kentucky Derby dish towel from High Street Fly.  | Woodford Reserve julep cup from Woodford Reserve Gift Shop. | Kentucky Derby 143 Official Mint Julep Glass | Louisville Stoneware julep cups from Maker's Mark and Buffalo Trace Distilleries. 

The mint julep is the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby. It's also one of the most maligned and misunderstood. A julep can be a lovely and refreshing cocktail when you use good bourbon, a fresh simple syrup and just-picked mint sprigs.

The first step to a great julep party is variety.  Set up tasting stations so your guests can sample juleps made from different bourbon expressions. It's a great way to determine how the drink works for your palate. Some folks swear a julep needs to be in the traditional silver cup, others want a traditional Derby Glass, and some of us love the feel of a Louisville Stoneware Julep Cup. (The Stoneware cups are my favorite because they keep your drink cold without the condensation of a metal cup!

Bar towels from Maker's Mark and Woodford Reserve Distilleries. Rose garland from Etsy seller thekindpilot.

You're bound to have some guests who don't want a julep -- there's always that Kentuckian -- so stock some bourbons and ryes that are good for sipping or for making other, less Derby-approved cocktails. 

Decorate with red roses and horseshoes and serve a couple of traditional munchies. I like a Derby Pie® and some Benedictine sandwiches cut in fun shapes! 

To learn more about the mint julep, visit the Kentucky Derby Book website, where you'll see a video of Woodford Reserve's Chief Entertainment Officer Tim Laird making the perfect mint julep and read more about the classic mint julep cocktail with Woodford Reserve Master Taster Elizabeth McCall.

The Kentucky Derby by Bill Doolittle is a wonderful companion to the Greatest Two Minutes in Horse Racing. The book's Digimarc technology allows you to experience live video of Derby races, Derby fashion, and traditions like the mint julep directly on your smartphone! You can buy the hardback coffee table book here, or you can download the eBook from Amazon or iTunes.

(This post was sponsored by the Kentucky Derby Book. All opinions are my own.)

The $1000 Mint Julep

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Image courtesy Elizabeth O'Neill

A $1000 Mint Julep, made from ultra-premium ingredients. For some, it sounds like the ultimate trackside luxury; for others, it sounds like an unattainable way to sip a cocktail that they haven’t quite learned to enjoy properly. For Kentucky Derby fans in the know, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime way to give back to the horse racing community in a significant way.

Bourbon and horses are, of course, Kentucky’s two most famous industries – some would even call them Kentuckians’ most famous obsessions. And, as renowned bourbon historian Michael Veach recently noted, bourbon and horses are intertwined in more ways than we can count. Elizabeth O’Neill, Master Taster of Woodford Reserve, tells a story of her perfect Kentucky Derby moment, which marries racing and bourbon in beautiful harmony: “Last year was my first year attending the Derby in my professional capacity for Woodford instead of just as an enthusiastic spectator. I arrived at 4 a.m. to assist Chris Morris (Woodford Reserve’s Master Distiller) and Tim Laird (Brown-Forman’s Chief Entertaining Officer) in making cocktails and talking to the press about the $1000 Mint Julep. There we were at Churchill Downs on Derby morning and nobody was really there yet. We were set up for an interview near the second turn of the track and there was a moment when I was able to just enjoy watching the horses galloping and trotting during morning workouts. As a horse lover and a Kentuckian, I just thought, ‘I’m so lucky to be doing this!’"

Elizabeth O'Neill of Woodford Reserve and I recently chatted over Mint Juleps.

It’s that very spirit of thanksgiving that leads Woodford Reserve to give back to the equine community. For eleven years now, Woodford Reserve, the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, has used the $1,000 mint julep as an outlet to raise over $425,000 for equine and humanitarian causes. This year’s $1000 Mint Julep Cup will benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, an independent 501(c) public charity that provides financial assistance to former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries. Created in 2006 by leaders in the horseracing industry, PDJF has disbursed over $7 million dollars and currently supports 60 permanently disabled jockeys, most of whom have paralysis or traumatic brain injuries. It’s truly a remarkable charity that gives back to those jockeys who have made life-altering sacrifices in the pursuit of a sport they love.

So what makes a mint julep worthy of a $1000 or higher price tag? Unique ingredients, a rare, collectible vessel, and, of course, a charitable spirit. Ninety Crafter’s Cups, sold at $1000, will be available for purchase at the 142nd Kentucky Derby. These individually numbered cups, designed by Hamilton Shirts, feature Hamilton’s classic plaid pattern, along with the 2016 Kentucky Derby date and Woodford Reserve logo accompanied by a gold-plated sipping straw. Each Crafter’s Cup is available for $1,000. Even more rare are the fifteen gold-plated Master’s Cups, which feature a design similar to the Crafter’s Cup and are accented with diamonds and a silver sipping straw. Each Master’s Cup sells for $2,500.

As for the contents of the Julep Cup? It’s a special take on the Mint Julep created by New York mixologist Julie Renee Williams to invoke a traditional Southern dessert pecan pie. The recipe is:

Woodford Reserve 2016 Kentucky Derby Mint Julep

•      2 oz. Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select

•      ¾ oz. toasted pecan orgeat syrup

•      Fresh mint

•      Caramelized pecan crumbles for garnish

•      Edible bronze flakes

Rub fresh mint around julep cup. Combine ingredients with crushed ice and swizzle in glass. Add more crushed ice, garnish with mint bunch, caramelized pecan crumbles and edible bronze flakes.  To make toasted pecan orgeat, toast pecans, mix or muddle into small pieces and simmer on low heat to create a nut milk. Fine strain or use a nut milk bag to remove nut pieces, and add equal parts sugar to liquid.

Cheers to smooth sips, a great cause, and the magic of the Kentucky Derby!

(This post was brought to you by The Kentucky Derby Book and also appears on the book's blog. Check out The Kentucky Derby Book for an interactive look at the Greatest Two Minutes in Sports!)