The last release of Woodford's Masters Collection from 2020 is a true masterpiece.
About Woodford's Master's Collection
Each year Woodford releases two expressions as part of the Masters Collection, a batch proof expression with a traditional bourbon taste profile, and an "experimental" bourbon expression with a unique taste profile. Both releases are limited and are only offered for the year they are released. Very Fine Rare Bourbon is Woodford's "experimental" release of the 2020 Masters Collection.
Bottle Info & Vitals
Availability: Very Rare
Brand Owner: Brown-Forman
Category: Top Shelf
Type: 2020 Limited Release
Age: Not-Age-Stated, but 17 year barrels are used
Proof: 90.4
MSRP: $129.99
Fair Market Price: $199.99
Tasting Notes
Nose: Notes of cherry, vanilla, sweet oak, and malted rye flow out of the glass. There's almost no noticeable heat. Notes are robust and full to the point that your mouth starts to water almost immediately.
Palate: Mouthfeel is smooth and oily. Notes of sweet oak, vanilla, and malted rye hit up front. Followed by dark fruit, brown sugar, and malted chocolate in the mid to back palate. A little wood spice is present but it's pleasantly mild. Overall, its a unique and compelling experience.
Finish: Smooth with the gentlest of Kentucky hugs. Notes of sweet oak and brown sugar persist with hints of malted chocolate. This is a hard bottle to put down.
Final Thoughts
Over the years bourbon enthusiasts who haven't enjoyed the Master's Collection's "experimental" releases due to their non-traditional taste profiles, finally have a release that should sooth their pallets.
According to Woodford Reserve, they used 17-year-old barrels to create the blend for Very Fine Rare Bourbon, which helps to explain it's more traditional based bourbon taste profile. But it also has notes of malt and chocolate that feel like they were extracted directly from 2019's Master's Collection release Malted Chocolate Rye.
For all intense of purposes Very Fine Rare Bourbon is an oak forward experience, but it cascades across dominate notes of caramel, vanilla, and subtle notes of malted rye and chocolate. It's a well balanced and memorable experience.
"Over the years bourbon enthusiasts who haven't enjoyed the Master's Collection's "experimental" releases due to their non-traditional taste profiles, finally have a release that should sooth their pallets."
Woodford Reserve now has a crown jewel for its Master's Collection with this bottle. Very Fine Rare Bourbon is one of the best limited releases from any major distiller in recent memory (that I can think of at least).
It's $130 price tag is steep, but well worth it due to it's uniqueness, traditional bourbon profile, and overall quality. A fair market price is around $200, but I wouldn't recommend going much higher than that.
Good luck hunting.
Final Score: 357 out of 379 Kentucky Miles (One of a Kind of bourbon experience)
Woodford Reserve Very Rare Fine Bourbon Photo Gallery
