According to Woodford Reserve, “this year’s expression marks the 15th release [contradictory to this, the bottle label states 16th release] of the Master’s Collection, which was created to honor the many discoveries and innovations that occurred at the 1812 distillery site where Woodford Reserve is now located. Starting with the 2020 edition, all future master’s collections will focus on modern innovation by [Master Distiller Chris] Morris and [Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth] McCall.”

While the bottle does not carry any reference to the age of bourbons used in the blend, the company press release and marketing materials state that the bourbon “includes liquid from barrels that are 17 years old and date to 2003,” indicating Morris and McCall have been “holding back the barrels to batch with other barrels for a special release.”

This release is also notable for the fact that the bottle design has changed from Woodford’s traditional pot still shaped bottle design, a nod to the pot stills used at Woodford Reserve Distillery. Instead, the new bottle represents the “classic and iconic flask-shaped Woodford bottle.”

750ml