Woodford Reserve Rye Whiskey
70cl / 45.2%
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Distillery Bottling
First Release was in 2015. Woodford Reserve Rye is only the third expression in the core range. 53% of the mashbill is rye, leading to notes of apple and sweet spice
In the early 1800s, our Woodford County Distillery, thanks to owner Oscar Pepper and Master Distiller James Crow, was the site for landmark discoveries and innovative techniques in bourbon-making.
Pepper and Crow are credited with refining and defining key processes such as sour mashing, yeast propagation, copper pot distillation and the maturing of whiskey in new, charred oak casks. Their work defined bourbon and subsequently rye whiskey as we know them today.
Woodford Reserve Distillery’s Master Collection honors the pioneering work of Pepper and Crow, applying their handcrafted methods to a variety of grain recipes, fermentation styles and maturation processes to create a range of unique whiskeys
As just the seventh Master Distiller in Brown-Forman Corporation’s 140-year history, Chris Morris is responsible for maintaining the award-winning taste of Woodford Reserve.
A Louisville native, Morris has been around bourbon his whole life. His dad was a production manager and his mother worked in the art department at Brown-Forman.
Morris has spent most of his working life promoting Brown-Forman brands. His career with Brown-Forman began in 1976 as a trainee in the Central lab working for the Master Distiller.
In 1988, he transitioned to Glenmore Distilleries Company, where he worked as brand manager for their North American Whiskies Group. Morris joined United Distillers through their acquisition of Glenmore in 1991 and quickly assumed the role of Bourbon Portfolio Brands Development Manager, where he developed new bourbon brands, designed and directed sales and trade programs and served as the company's global bourbon brand ambassador.
In 1997, Morris returned to Brown-Forman and, subsequently, was chosen to begin training as its 7th Master Distiller.
In a way, he compares himself to Brown-Forman’s founder George Garvin Brown, who personally guarded the taste profile of his brands. “I love keeping involved with the crafting of the brand,” says Morris.
Additionally, he serves as brand ambassador for Brown-Forman at numerous trade and consumer functions.
