1. Home
  2. Woodford Reserve
  3. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Available With Engraving

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

(0.75l, 45.2%)


7.7/10
Price:
$31.99
Price, Shipping & Taxes may vary by state and will be recalculated at checkout.
Authenticity GuaranteedAuthenticity Guaranteed
Authenticity Guaranteed
We guarantee every product we sell is authentic.
Free ShippingFree Shipping
Free Shipping
Flaviar Members get free shipping on qualifying orders.
Buyer ProtectionBuyer Protection
Buyer Protection
Money-back guarantee if things go wrong.
Old George Brown himself would be proud.

There has been distilling on the Woodford Reserve Distillery site for more than 235 years, making it the oldest Bourbon distillery in Kentucky. Now owned by Brown-Forman — one of America’s largest wine and spirits companies — it has been refitted and set to expand. Since the beginning, the folks at Woodford have been influential in the development and codifying of Bourbon production. In short, they helped invent the spirit as we know and love it today. 

Smooth, pleasantly spiced, and bursting with flavor, Woodford Rye is a Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey that is at least four years old. The mash bill comes in at 53% rye, 33% corn, and 14% malt. Why 53%? Because that what it needs to be. And it’s bottled at an interesting 45.2% ABV. It wasn’t until 2015 that Woodford even made a Rye Whiskey, and the oddly precise numbers in the grain mix and ABV are evidence that they were focused more on taste and less on the math. And we think that they got the taste spot-on.

SmartAss Corner:
Woodford Reserve Distillery is named after the county where it’s located. But two-hundred odd years ago, founder Elijah Pepper named the distillery after his son, calling it the Oscar Pepper Distillery. 
  • Category
    Rye
  • Style
    Straight Rye Whiskey
  • Region
    Kentucky
  • Country
    United States
  • Alcohol
    45.2%
  • Distillery
    Woodford Reserve
  • Age
    NAS

Flavor Spiral™

About The Flavor Spiral

Close
spicy
black pepper
burnt caramel
apple
butter
vanilla sweetness
toasted oak
rye
sweet
What does Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey taste like?

The Flavor Spiral™ shows the most common flavors that you'll taste in Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey and gives you a chance to have a taste of it before actually tasting it.

We invented Flavor Spiral™ here at Flaviar to get all your senses involved in tasting drinks and, frankly, because we think that classic tasting notes are boring.

Tasting Notes
Appearance / Color
Warm Amber

Nose / Aroma / Smell
Cedar wood, cassia, almond paste, apple and black pepper

Flavor / Taste / Palate
Rye grain, spice, brown butter, toffee, with more tart apple

Finish
Long with plenty of baking spice

More drinks we think you'll like

James E. Pepper 1776 100 Proof Rye Whiskey
James E. Pepper
1776 100 Proof Rye Whiskey
Rye
7.8/10
$29.99
WhistlePig Double Malt 18 Year Old 1st Edition
WhistlePig
Double Malt 18 Year Old 1st Edition
Rye
9.1/10
$366.99
Rebel Straight Rye Whiskey
Rebel Bourbon
Rebel Straight Rye Whiskey
Rye
8.2/10
$23.99
Old Forester Rye
Old Forester
Rye
Rye
7.4/10
$24.99
Black Button Empire Rye Whiskey
Black Button
Empire Rye Whiskey
Rye
6.2/10
$70.99
Peerless Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (200ml)
Peerless
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (200ml)
Rye
7.9/10
$26.99
Ratings & Reviews
Member Reviews and Ratings of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Chris
Chris,
Smooth not much bite. Little maply at first. Pretty even in flavor.
 
Christopher
Christopher,
Strong oak flavor, that's smooth upfront and ends spicy on the back of you tongue.
 
Mathew
Mathew,
One of my every day night caps.
 
guest
guest,
Spice
 
Roger
Roger,
My go-to whiskey for a Manhattan anytime.
 
Tyler
Tyler,
This was my first rye that wasn't in a cocktail, so I may have been thrown off by some of the notes I experienced that differ from bourbon. My major impression was a pumpernickel bread funkiness that dominated the nose and palate. Beyond that, tart and tangy fruits like apricots and green apple, a sharp peppery finish with medium sweetness and burn. Overall an interesting dram but I think rye is not in my wheelhouse flavor-wise so my take on this might be unhelpful to rye enthusiasts.
 
Sam
Sam,
Easy drinking an smooth
 
James
James,
Starts sweet, a banana cream nose and vanilla taste.
 
Kevin
Kevin,
So smooth and fits perfectly in my Old Fashioned!
 
Daniel
Daniel,
Good U.S. Whiskey for sipping
 
David
David,
Good rye whiskey and an above average 7.5 rating. I like baby Sazerac and Old Forester rye a little better in this price range but this is a good sipper and good in cocktails.
 
Thomas
Thomas,
Very smooth and nice spice. Good value.
 
Jeffrey
Jeffrey,
Good
 
Jason
Jason,
Nice very smooth
 
Jason
Jason,
Really smooth!! Good flavor 😋
 
Richard
Richard,
Wow! Tasting notes are dead on. Smooth, mellow spice, soft finish with rye and caramel. Had it neat and doesn’t need a splash or a cube.
 
guest
guest,
Caramel and spice with burnt oranges TW barrel pick delicious
 
Joe
Joe,
Soft buttery spices with a hint of vanilla.
 
Jake
Jake,
Perfect for old fashionds and drinking streight!
 
Nate
Nate,
Smooth,
 
james
james,
Nose is smooth which makes the spiciness of the taste a pleasant surprise. Ends with mixture of butter and spice. I prefer this to the Michters Rye I compared it to.
 
Earl
Earl,
It is a very nice whiskey with sweet chocolate finish. I am glad I got it.
 
Mark
Mark,
Spicy with cinnamon notes but smoother than expected
 
James
James,
I like the ryes.
 
David
David,
Too spicy for my liking
 
John
John,
One of the best Rye's in the American market. Mixes well with almost anything.
 
Alex
Alex,
Spicy and warm. Really good rye.
 
Mark
Mark,
Balanced with spice
 
Theo
Theo,
First Rye I’ve had. Got it as a gift and it was really smooth.
 
guest
guest,
This is arguably one of the best bourbons on the planet. The fact that this is $30 is mind blowing. Nose: the corn comes out here. It always reminds me of a barn but it’s balanced nice here. Mint, Caramel and vanilla. Palate: most ryes smack you with spice and have a subtle mint, however this is the opposite. The mix of spice, vanilla, and mint make turns this into something fruity and cool, It’s incredible, something like a blackberry or black cherry. Finish: smooth and decent length. The black pepper comes out here mixed with butter and vanilla.
 
Andrew
Andrew,
Solid rye, will be my new stock for rye at home. Balanced not overly spicy, smooth good to sip, on the rocks or mix.
 
David
David,
This was my first ever Woodford bottle, and it was definitely worth it. Price point is spot on, and it's smooth enough to taste all the flavors without the burn numbing your tongue.
 
James
James,
Solid, great value
 
Lawrence
Lawrence,
Good Rye to sip straight up. Price makes this a good buy every time.
 
Nicholas
Nicholas,
Very strong rye taste but not to bad
 
Ben
Ben,
Complex and pretty mild for a rye.
 
Sergio
Sergio,
Very smooth and it has a nice finish. You can't beat the price for how it taste.
 
guest
guest,
Soft and Adoreable Whiskey
 
James
James,
Liked it but don't prefer rye
 
Jeffrey
Jeffrey,
Great alternative to their bourbon.
 
Mark
Mark,
About what one should expect from a big distillery.
 
Jim
Jim,
Smooth and dark, like wet glass with a little ice.
 
Daniel
Daniel,
Great base, but missed the mark for the rye spicyness we look for. Not bad as a mixer either.
 
Ken
Ken,
This is a good rye. Close your eyes. Picture what Woodford Reserve bourbon tastes like...now imagine a bit more rye spice flavor and finish...that's this rye. It fine for sipping, even better in an old fashioned and equally as good in a Manhattan. There are better values out there (Rittenhouse) and better sippers (High West Midwinter's Nights Dram, 4yr Willett, etc.), but this is a great overall choice I always keep on hand.
 
Kent
Kent,
Just what I want in a Rye. Interesting spice, interesting burn, interesting buttery flavors, and makes a nice Old fashion. 😏.
 
Derek
Derek,
This is the smoothest rye I have had. Very subtle spice kick that a typical rye will have.
 
Jeff
Jeff,
This is a pretty good sipping whiskey, especially for the price. I would definitely have this again. I really didn't note anything special about the smell, but the taste had a hint of vanilla that leaves a really good aftertaste.
 
guest
guest,
Classic.
 
Gage
Gage,
Excellent rye whisky it's what those moonshiner guys should aim for
 
Matthew
Matthew,
Relatively smooth but too much spice at the end. Had it on the rocks and by the time some of the ice had melted it became more drinkable.
 
DAVID
DAVID,
This is a good, balanced rye. It drinks much like a bourbon, with a bit of spice and that rye kick at the back. I prefer more of a true rye (the mash bill on this is 51% rye), but it's a good entry point for new rye drinkers. My wife said she doesn't like rye, but after trying this, it opened her eyes to it. This would be a good rye to keep on hand for cocktails or even a neat sip when you want a bit of spice beyond a typical bourbon. We enjoyed it and would purchase again.
 
Daniel
Daniel,
Not much nose to this whiskey, feels and tastes more like a semi-spicy bourbon. If you are looking for a more peppery/spicy rye, look elsewhere. But for the price it is not too shabby!
 
John
John,
Decent flavor but there’s a lot of pepper in this bottle. Better on ice. Haven’t tried in a cocktail yet. I’d buy again for the right price.
 
Chris
Chris,
Incredible and extremely unlike a rye. If you need an intro to rye and want something unique. This one is it! Smooth, cinnamon, light spice, refreshing apple, not spicy at all, slightly buttery. To me, this is bar-non the best Woodford product ever!
 
Eric
Eric,
And I hate ryes.
 
Adam
Adam,
So smooth
 
guest
guest,
So smooth.
 
Luke
Luke,
Nose: difficult to read, some corn, leather Taste: apples and lots of spice, nice strong finish
 
Chad
Chad,
Very balanced and approachable rye. Spicy, buttery and smooth. A great everyday rye.
 
Michelle
Michelle,
My everyday fav
 
Christopher
Christopher,
Smells like a new cedar chest, with a faint apple. Starts off with pepper, rye and finishes nice. This is my absolute go to rye, and sets the bar for all of my ryes. I drink it neat, as I do with all my bourbons. No wonder (I try to) keep a liter of it at all times!
 
jonathan
jonathan,
very awesome flavors and smooth tasre, bet its the best rye whiskey i have had
 
Jacob
Jacob,
Sweet to start, peppery to end. A go-to Rye. Very satisfying alone or as the base of a classic rye cocktail.
 
John
John,
Can be very sweet upfront. Finishes off with a peppery bite. Not bad.
 
Joseph
Joseph,
One of my go-to bourbons. Has a bite up front, but the mellow flavors rise pleasantly as the bite subsides. Sweet caramel is very strong. Good, easy to drink bourbon.
 
Carlos
Carlos,
Not as smooth as I expected.
 
Seth
Seth,
Probably the best tasting rye on the market that is easy to find and for a decent price!
 
Ivan
Ivan,
Very basic, standard rye whiskey, nothing to write home about.
 
Aaron
Aaron,
Had high hopes for this one but was let down. Very strong antiseptic taste. Not as much rye spice as I would have liked
 
Ro
Ro,
Excellent Rye. Makes a great cocktail
 
Bear
Bear,
Great Rye, very spicy!
 
Michelle
Michelle,
Smooth with a slight bite of pepper. I really enjoy this straight or mixed.
 
Madison
Madison,
Admittedly, I am new to rye, but this is one I greatly enjoyed. While not featured on the spiral, I swear I tasted chocolate in addition to the nutty flavors that abound. Smooth with an awesome kick of black pepper.
 
Jim
Jim,
One of my favorites. Smooth
 
Carl
Carl,
Very smooth. This is a Rye that Bourbon lovers should try!
 
Mike
Mike,
Really smooth, easy drinking. I strongly recommend it.
 
Curt
Curt,
Good flavor, nice and smooth.
 
robert
robert,
bought as a gift, so no review, but he did say he liked it a lot.
 
Kerry
Kerry,
My first rye whiskey. Not a huge fan of rye flavor in general, but this is very smooth.
 
guest
guest,
An excellent, smooth, crisp rye.
 
Load more reviews
Back Back
A Dram for Your Thoughts
You need to be logged in to leave a review.
Your Rating
Review
Cancel