Woodford Reserve Distillery

As Kentucky’s oldest and smallest distillery, Woodford Reserve Distillery is a National Historic Landmark and lies quietly tucked on the same hallowed grounds where Elijah Pepper began crafting whiskey in 1812. Featuring one of the only heat-cycled barrelhouses in the world, Woodford Reserve® is the only Bourbon made in copper pot stills with a triple distillation process.

Woodford Reserve Distillery Tours

Experience the truest expression of Woodford Reserve at our historic distillery in Versailles, Kentucky. Join us for a guided experience through the Distillery grounds that explores our history, how we’re unique at all five sources of flavor, and much more. Visit the Woodford Reserve Distillery website to see a complete list of available tours, tastings and to book a visit. Book a tour here.

Quality. It’s Our Woodford Way.

Woodford Reserve is built on details. Where we’re from and how we’re made. Quality is what we’re judged against. And if we aren’t great, nothing else matters. Learn more about all our whiskies here.

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Woodford Reserve Bourbon is a super-premium bourbon, crafted at the historic Woodford Reserve Distillery, located in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region.

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – An innovative approach to twice-barreled bourbon creates the rich and colorful flavor of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked.

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey – Unlike a typical 100% malt whiskey, Woodford Reserve is a  Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey crafted from 51% malt and aged in new charred oak barrels, making it the malt whiskey for bourbon drinkers.

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey – Made in the traditional style of Kentucky Ryes, Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey delivers bold flavors of pepper and tobacco with a long fruit and sweetly spiced finish.

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey – Woodford Reserve Wheat Whiskey is a modern interpretation of a classic straight American whiskey through wheat grain innovation. With a nod to history balanced with our pioneering spirit, this four-grain whiskey has a delicate, fruit-forward character.

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Baccarat Edition – Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition is crafted by uniquely finishing the most complex and balanced Kentucky Bourbon in select XO Cognac barrels. Sourced by our Master Distiller Chris Morris, each barrel has seen three seasons of cognac before being filled with Woodford Reserve. The result is the best of both spirits – a balance of crisp American and French oak notes, complex fruit character, subtle spiciness and a creamy confectionary finish. Presented in a bespoke Baccarat decanter.

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – In the 1830’s our Woodford County distillery was the setting for a series of discoveries and innovative practices that would define the bourbon industry for generations to come. For this 2020 Master’s Collection release Master Distiller Chris Morris and Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall have drawn upon the rich history of that time and their own careers for inspiration. The result is the Fall 2020 Master’s Collection release named Very Fine Rare Bourbon, a rich and darkly robust expression of Woodford Reserve Bourbon.

Meet Our Distillers – Chris Morris and Elizabeth McCall

Chris and Elizabeth have been integral in driving innovation and shaping the story of Woodford Reserve, sharing the belief that the keys to making the World’s Finest Bourbon are not only time and patience, but science and art. Chris began his career in bourbon in 1976, while Elizabeth moved from her 9-year tenure in R&D to Assistant Master Distiller in 2018. Together they craft whiskeys that are a spectacle for the senses.

“A visit at Woodford Reserve Distillery offers a rare opportunity to see the entire Kentucky Bourbon making process, from mashing to bottling, in one easy to follow format,” said Master Distiller Chris Morris. “It showcases the fact that today we follow the same steps and procedures to craft our Bourbon that were practiced by our ancestors over 150 years ago.”

“Woodford Reserve is a brand that was built out of pure passion,” said Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall. “Every person who touched it was united in building something great. It’s all the pieces that make Woodford so unique and special, from the liquid to the bottle, our home place, Woodford County, and all the people that touch it.

Woodford Reserve Distillery is currently open for Retail Store and Bar visits without reservations. We are also open for tours and tastings with a reservation. Please give us a call prior to visiting with any questions.