Woodford Announces Latest Master's Collection Called Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Very Fine Rare Bourbon

Woodford Reserve has announced their latest addition to their Master's Collection with a new bourbon called Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Very Fine Rare Bourbon. This release follows up the Woodford Reserve Batch Proof announced in February and the Chocolate Malted Rye Bourbon announced in September of 2019.

This release was created by Master Distiller Chris Morris and Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall and is the first to feature an updated Master's Collection bottle. This release is aged from barrels from 2003 making this the oldest Woodford release so far. The year is special it coincides with the first year Morris became Woodford Master Distiller. 

He states:

The name Very Fine Rare Bourbon is a nod to the descriptors used by our ancestors to auction highly-aged Bourbon barrel lots. While Woodford Reserve will always honor the past, this Master’s Collection is about the present and future.

The Very Fine Rare Bourbon will start hitting shelves this month (although probably not in Ohio because our liquor laws are still stuck in the 19th century). This release comes in at 90.4 proof (45.2% alcohol, no MSRP was provided, and it carries the following tasting notes:

Nose - Layers of rich oak sweet aromatic notes, caramel, brown sugar, chocolate, vanilla merge into a cured tobacco character brightened with apple fruit

Taste - Very old oak notes sweetened with honey balanced by a touch of citrus and apple peel and a touch of clove spice

Finish - A long finish of raisin fruit and malty sweetness

My Take

Although no price was provided, I've seen other sites suggest the $130 price point. That seems like a pretty good price for a 17 year old bourbon. I currently have a bottle of the Master's Collection Cherry Finish that was purchased in Michigan that I use for special occasions. I could see doing the same thing with this release if I came across it. Obviously, the $130+ price point won't be for everyone, but if this is something you can afford... I say go for it. 

What do you think? Let me know in the comments. 

Source: Woodford Reserve