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Woodford Reserve Debuts New Malt Whiskey Expression

By Sam Slaughter Jun 13, 2018 10:00 AM

woodford reserve malt — Image used with permission by copyright holder

American malt whiskeys are a big deal these days and one of the bigger plays on the whiskey scene—Woodford Reserve—has officially joined the fray with their newest release, Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey.

The recipe for the new whiskey was based on historical recipes and influenced by Woodford Reserve Bourbon. When the US (thankfully) exited Prohibition, malt whiskey was one of the four approved categories of whiskey, proving that it was being created and consumed pre-Prohibition. Using these recipes as a launching point, Master Distiller Chris Morris then worked to create his own iteration.

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“Inspired by history and a distinct flavor profile, Woodford Reserve is charting its own unique path with this new malt whiskey based on historical precedence and our commitment to flavor, something that’s ingrained in everything we do,” Morris said in a statement.

This is the fourth addition to the brand’s permanent portfolio (the previous three being Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, and Woodford Reserve Rye). Woodford Reserve also produces a number of limited runs of special whiskeys, which have included bourbons finished in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir barrels, among a wide variety of other specialties. (They also do limited edition Kentucky Derby bottles every year.)

The grain bill of the new whiskey, as you might expect, is 51-percent malted barley. The rest is made of 47-percent corn and 2-percent rye. (If you’re playing along at home, that means this is not a bourbon, no matter how hard the guy at the bottle shop argues with you about it. It doesn’t matter how many whiskey Facebook groups he belongs to, he’s wrong. Let him be wrong.)

On the nose, Malt is nutty, with hints of caramel and milk chocolate shading light tropical notes. On the palate, you’ll find more chocolate—darker this time—and more caramel. Some toasted coconut and oak present themselves in addition to some baking spices. A medium long finish comes last, bringing sweet malt notes to the very end.

If you’re a fan of Scotch or Irish whisk(e)y, the malted barley flavors will be appealing and immediately recognizable. If you’re not, well, time to dive in to the exciting category of American malt whiskeys!

Woodford Reserve Malt comes in at 90.4 proof and retails for $34.99. It is available nationwide.

Imperial stouts available everywhere that are perfect for fall

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I get it, you’re not happy that summer and its seemingly endless, sun-drenched days filled with light, crisp, refreshing beer are over. Even begrudgingly, you’ve likely already moved onto fall beer with Oktoberfest, Vienna lagers, pumpkin ales, and maltier, dark brews. But even though you’re not ready to put your board shorts and flip-flops away until next summer, the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting chillier. It’s almost imperial stout season.

As a beer drinker, I also struggle to move on from the lighter, crushable beers of summer and early fall. But I love a well-made imperial stout. This full-bodied, rich, high-alcohol brew is the perfect complement to the colder months ahead. In fact, there’s no beer style I’d rather drink while I sit beside a fall campfire.

The 50 crowns the 50 Best Bars for 2026

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Moebius Milano took the No. 2 spot, followed by Alquímico in Cartagena, Bangkok’s Bar Us, and Athens’ Line at No. 5. Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy, a former top-ranked bar, placed sixth this year and earned Best Bar in North America honors.

Tired of messy meal prep? Ninja just released the ultimate space-saver

Ninja Prepi

SharkNinja is back with another innovative kitchen launch — the Ninja PREPi. This is a first-of-its-kind system that can prep, store, and serve, all in one compact device. The Ninja PREPi, your shortcut to eating fresh: chef-level prep precision with no skills required, compact and portable design, easily stackable storage – eating the way you want has never been so easy. From dicing to chopping, slicing, and puréeing, its a product that is designed to help make meal prep even easier (and give you back time in the kitchen). I’m pretty excited about this launch, as it seems like one of those products we didn’t know we needed (but soon won’t be able to live without).

“Even a simple meal can feel like a project once you factor in the prep and the cleanup,” said D-J Hageman, VP of Marketing at Ninja. “It can mean knives for chopping, multiple cutting boards, serving bowls, and containers for leftovers. We created Ninja PREPi™ to bring those steps together to make cooking easier for home chefs, with a fresh take on a category that isn’t typically the target of kitchen innovation.”