Woodford Reserve – straight, in a cocktail, or perhaps barrel aged…

Woodford Reserve – straight, in a cocktail, or perhaps barrel aged…
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Do you have a favourite whiskey? Are you a scotch advocate, or prefer a craft bourbon? Neat, on the rocks, or mixed into a cocktail?

Whiskey has gained huge popularity on the bar scene over the last few years, and the Old Fashioned is fast becoming one of the most ordered cocktails in the world. For those who don’t know, this is a classic combination of whiskey, sugar and orange peel, although various alterations frequently appear on menus.

With so few ingredients, it makes sense that the ones you do use are quality. Whether you’re a fan of the golden tipple already, or starting out your journey, then let us introduce you to one of our favourite cocktails – the Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned.

Welcome to Kentucky. Colonel Sanders made it synonymous with fried chicken; 90% of the world’s disco balls are produced here; AND they deliver a damn fine bourbon.

Part of the success of Woodford Reserve is due to the fact it’s never manufactured. Each small batch is hand-crafted – a rare thing in these days of fast turnover and profit-chasing. It’s the only bourbon distillery to triple distill in copper pot stills, making for an amber-glowing drink with a unique, rounded taste that looks like liquid-sunset.

Bartenders are also huge advocates of Woodford Reserve, partly due to its depth and character. We recently headed to the acclaimed Peg + Patriot in Bethnal Green to try one of their exciting new libations. Now, for those unfamiliar with the bar, prepare to have your preconceptions of cocktails blown away. From the genius brain of Matt Whiley (of Talented Mr Fox fame), the menu reads as if a chef, a mixologist and a mad scientist have all been let loose in the same room and given cocktail apparatus to play with. At the Peg + Patriot you can sip on the likes of a Pho Money Pho Problems (a bamboozling, delicious and out-there combination of viet spiced vodka, pak choi and lime, designed to transport you to a steamy Vietnamese side-street), and Tea Cake Martini, which channels exactly what its name suggests.

super soakedThe drink that we were especially fond of, however, was the Super Soaker. This innovative cocktail mixes Woodford Reserve that has been infused with thirst-quenching watermelon, then adds Cocchi di Torino vermouth and ‘bitterness’ from acid phosphate. The result is a refreshing but pleasantly complex libation that takes the smooth silkiness of bourbon and merges it with sweetness of melon and intend orange hints of vermouth.

So, whether it’s an Old Fashioned or a new-fangled Super Soaker, than see how Woodford Reserve rates on  your scale of whiskies to watch out for.

And if you want to make it a cheeky double…

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked has arrived on the scene. It still holds on to the values of the origin bourbon – craftsmanship of small batches, quality and innovation – but now there’s a little something extra to make it stand out and cause delight amongst whiskey fans. After being fully matured to the Woodford we all know and love, it is then transferred to a second, heavily toasted barrel where it sits for another twelve months. This ageing process gives Woodford Reserve Double Oaked a delicious full-bodied flavour of dark fruits, caramel and hazelnut – and makes for an occasion bourbon that is one to definitely savour.

 Rebecca

Written by Rebecca Milford

Posted: January 17, 2015

Rebecca is a cocktail connoisseur & fan of good nosh. A PR whizz with a gold medal in bar hopping, you can follow her on Twitter here.