Woodford Reserve Releases 2025 Master’s Collection: Sweet Oak Bourbon

SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 (VERSAILLES, KY) — Today, Woodford Reserve announces the 2025 Master’s Collection release – Sweet Oak Bourbon. Aged in rare Chinkapin oak barrels, this whiskey draws bold flavor and unique grain structure.

Sweet Oak Bourbon marks the 21st release in Woodford Reserve’s Master’s Collection, continuing the brand’s exploration of American oak innovation and the intricate ways wood influences whiskey. 

“Bottled at 110.4 proof, this bourbon delivers a powerful, full-bodied profile while maintaining Woodford’s signature sweetness,” Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall said. “With sweet oak at its core, this expression offers nuanced layers of flavor that whiskey collectors and connoisseurs will appreciate.”

This limited edition release is part of the prestigious Master’s Collection series, showcasing Woodford Reserve’s experimental approach to grain, maturation and wood.

This release has an MSRP of $179.99 for a 700ml bottle, available in limited quantities at select Kentucky retailers and at Woodford Reserve Distillery starting on September 9. It is also available for shipping (to KY, NH, ND, NE and Washington D.C only) in the brand’s online store as shop.woodfordreserve.com. For more information on the Masters Collection Series and Woodford Reserve’s portfolio visit www.woodfordreserve.com.

Taste Notes: 

Color: Mahogany

Aroma: A rich aroma of mulled cherries, raisins, clove, and nutmeg; sweet leather and toasted oak

Taste: A robust taste of warm baking spices, sassafras, roasted walnuts and black tea

Finish: A lingering finish of oak, black tea, and dried dark fruit

About Woodford Reserve:

Brown-Forman Corporation has been building exceptional spirits brands for more than 150 years, responsibly upholding our founding promise of “Nothing Better in the Market.” Our portfolio of premium brands includes the Jack Daniel’s Family of Brands, Woodford Reserve, Herradura, el Jimador, New Mix, Old Forester, The Glendronach, Glenglassaugh, Benriach, Diplomático Rum, Chambord, Gin Mare, Fords Gin, Slane, and Coopers’ Craft. With a team of approximately 5,000 employees worldwide, we proudly share our passion for premium beverages in more than 170 countries. Discover more about us at brown-forman.com and stay connected through LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Woodford Reserve’s 2025 Master’s Collection release, Sweet Oak Bourbon, is already catching my eye. Aged in rare Chinkapin oak barrels and bottled at 110.4 proof, this release promises a bold, full-bodied profile while keeping Woodford’s signature sweetness. The tasting notes suggest a rich, layered experience with mulled cherries, raisins, clove, nutmeg, roasted walnuts, and black tea, finishing with lingering oak and dark fruit — a combination that has me very curious. I’ll be trying a sample soon, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the bourbon actually pours and tastes compared to the tasting notes.

On paper, this is a release that could be a standout in the Master’s Collection series, though the $179.99 price point and limited availability make it a whiskey I’d recommend approaching with a bit of caution until it’s tasted. I’m especially interested to see how the Chinkapin oak aging influences the flavor and whether it lives up to the unique profile described. For now, I’d consider this a “try before you buy” release — exciting for collectors and bourbon enthusiasts, with plenty of potential depending on how it tastes once I get my sample in hand.