Woodford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Finish Bourbon Review | Distillery Series 2026

Woodford Reserve
Distillery Series 2026 Release 1
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Finished in Cabernet Sauvignon Barrels
90.4 Proof
SRP: $64.99
Review

Please enjoy our Woodford Reserve Distillery Series – Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Finish Bourbon Review!

Exploring the Woodford Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Finish Bourbon

Woodford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Finish Bourbon is the latest addition to the distillery’s experimental Distillery Series, as of March 2026. Crafted at the historic Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky, this series serves as a creative playground for Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall. This specific expression features fully mature Woodford Reserve Bourbon that has undergone a secondary maturation in French oak Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. This process aims to marry the traditional spice and sweetness of Kentucky bourbon with the dark fruit influences typically found in premium red wines.

The Details – Woodford Reserve Distillery Series Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Finish Bourbon Review

• Distillery: Woodford Reserve Distillery
• Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Cabernet Sauvignon French Oak Barrels
• Finishing Time: Not stated
• Age: Not stated
• Proof: 90.4
• Price: $64.99 (375ml)
• Availability: Woodford Reserve Distillery and select Kentucky retailers

Tasting Notes

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested: 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass
👉🏻 Nose: Raspberry jam, sweet dark plums and cherries; buttery caramel, light spicy oak with a wisp of leather; touch of grapefruit; hints of sweet apples later on
👉🏻 Taste: Raspberry jam, dark plums, light honey, mild oak and leather
👉🏻 Finish: Fruit fades but lingers and becomes a bit more tangy, like dried cherries; moderate white pepper spice; increasingly dry with lasting dry wood, leather, mild char and lingering spice; moderately long; pleasant warmth

A Nuanced Marriage of Fruit and Oak

The wine notes are present throughout and dominant, but they blend surprisingly well with the base Woodford Reserve Bourbon without overpowering it. The nose is mildly sweet and fruit forward, with dark stone fruits from the wine, as well as a touch of citrus, and some older barrel notes like leather. The buttery caramel is there, but it lives more in the background. The wine notes continue into the palate, which gradually becomes more dry as it heads into the finish. Then, the wine flavors do give way to increasing dryness, spice and mature barrel notes, some of which I suspect are coming from the French oak of the wine barrels themselves.

Final Thoughts on the Woodford Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Finished Bourbon

For full disclosure, I am generally not a red wine finished whiskey fan. Also, I usually feel that ryes do better with sweeter, fruitier finishes than do bourbons. So, I was a bit skeptical about how those bold wine flavors would work with a fairly low proof bourbon. I have to say, I am very pleasantly surprised. While the wine notes are definitely present, as I would have expected, the combination of flavors is quite enjoyable. Some red-wine finished bourbons seem as if a glass of wine was dumped directly in them, but that is definitely not the case here. On the contrary, Woodford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Finish Bourbon is a delicious marriage of flavors.

If you are a fan of red wine finished whiskeys, and think they might go well with an approachable bourbon with classic bourbon flavors, then this is one that you will want to try. Have you tried the Woodford Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Finish Bourbon? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Woodford Reserve Distillery Series – Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Finish Bourbon Review! Next, read these related articles: Woodford Reserve Distillery Tour Review and Woodford Double Double Oaked Review (2024 release).

Note: This sample was graciously provided by the Brand for my review. I appreciate it!

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