The American single malt category has been building momentum for years, with craft distilleries leading the charge and major players like Jack Daniel’s and Bulleit recently joining the fray. Now that the TTB has finally given the category official recognition, Kentucky’s own Woodford Reserve is stepping up with its own entry, a 12-year-old American Single Malt that’s been aging in used barrels, waiting for this exact moment.
A Decade-Plus Education in Patience
Woodford Reserve’s Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall has been sitting on these barrels for over a decade, understanding that American single malt needs time to develop its own identity separate from bourbon’s shadow. The result is a whiskey that speaks to bourbon drinkers while carving out its own territory.
The 12-year age statement immediately sets this apart from most current American single malts, which typically clock in between five and ten years. That extended maturation in used whiskey barrels creates the lighter color and more nuanced profile that McCall was after. While bourbon gets its aggressive character from new charred oak, this expression demonstrates how previously used barrels allow the malted barley to shine without overwhelming wood influence.
Trust the Process
The triple pot distillation process — a signature of Woodford’s approach — adds another layer of refinement. Combined with their proprietary yeast strain (which is really the element that helps distinguish one distillery from another), this creates a foundation that’s distinctly Woodford while exploring entirely new flavor territory, bottled at 90.4 proof.
According to the company, the whiskey exhibits aromas of caramel, sun tea, pear, lemon, ginger, and cardamom, before giving way to a sweet, nutty palate with caramel, clove, and lemon notes.
The Distillery Series Continues to Deliver
The American Single Malt becomes the latest member of Woodford’s Distillery Series, which has become the distillery’s experimental lineup, with innovative expressions like the recent Tawny Port Finish and Chocolate Whisper Redux. These limited releases allow the distillery to push creative boundaries while maintaining the quality standards that built their reputation.
Spec Sheet
Whiskey: Woodford Reserve 12-Year-Old American Single Malt Whiskey
Type: American Single Malt
Age Statement: 12 Years
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
ABV: 45.2% ABV
Tasting Notes: Sweet nutty malt, caramel, sun tea, clove, lemon
Pricing & Availability
Priced at $100 in 375mL bottles, the 12-year American Single Malt is available exclusively through Kentucky retailers and the Woodford Reserve Distillery, with limited online shipping to Kentucky, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Washington D.C. Given the Distillery Series’ track record for selling out quickly, this one probably won’t sit on shelves long.
Recap
Woodford Reserve Distillery Series American Single Malt 12-Year Whiskey
As part of its experimental Distillery Series, Woodford Reserve debuts it’s first-ever American single malt whiskey, taking advantage of the TTB’s official category recognition. Aged in used bourbon barrels, this whiskey was aged for 12 years, much longer than most American single malts at the moment.
