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Woodford Reserve today announced the release of its newest permanent expression, Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey.
Available in US and global markets, Woodford Reserve Wheat is based on historical recipes but influenced by the iconic core Woodford Reserve Bourbon brand. With wheat as the dominant grain – at 52 percent, followed by malt (20%), corn (20%) and rye (8%) – this whiskey was created by Master Distiller Chris Morris.
“After Prohibition, the federal government permitted four styles of American straight whiskey, each with a different majority grain – bourbon, rye, wheat and malt,” Morris said. “Woodford Reserve now has all four whiskeys as part of its permanent family of brands – Woodford Bourbon, Woodford Rye, Woodford Malt and now Woodford Wheat.”
“This proprietary expression of Woodford Reserve Wheat is designed to deliver a unique ‘fruit-forward’ flavor profile,” Morris said. “It is, like the other members of the Woodford Reserve brands, complex and approachable – and it will make great cocktails.”
The Federal Alcohol Administration Act of August 29, 1935 provided guidelines to four styles of American straight whiskeys. Woodford Reserve is among the first American whiskey brands to create four unique expressions based on those standards, and the only one of the “Kentucky Majors” to have all four in regular release at the same time, although some craft distillers have all four in regular production. They are also just the second of the major Kentucky distillers to introduce a wheat whiskey into regular line-up, following Heaven Hill’s Bernheim Original some two decades ago.
“This new permanent expression highlights our distillery’s commitment to creativity, innovation, and dedication to making the world’s best tasting whiskeys,” Morris said.
Woodford Reserve Wheat is 90.4 proof with a suggested retail price of $34.99 for a 750ml bottle.
