Bourbon and driving do not go together. However, the same dedication to detail and craftsmanship can pour into the making of both.
During a recent trip to Kentucky to explore the inner-workings of the Lexus plant there that build the ES, the automaker arranged a side trip to explore the Woodford Reserve Distillery outside Lexington. While whiskey and luxury automobiles seem like an odd metaphoric combination, the techniques employed at both prove quality products emerge thanks to the human touch.
Also: Marriott Teams with Maker’s Mark for Bourbon Battles in Lexington
To build their cars, Lexus employs human beings to oversee the making of each vehicle — using their dexterity, sensitivity and discretion to bleed a unique feel into the ride. The minds behind Woodford Reserve blend that intimate human touch with classic techniques and modern equipment to produce their top shelf American Bourbon.
While Woodford Reserve opened in 1996, a distillery of one sort or another has stood on the same land since 1780. While Prohibition might’ve stopped production and forced other uses for the land, Woodford Reserve now has a full-time operation piling up the barrels for aging.
Woodford Reserve currently makes its classic Bourbon, the double-barreled and richer Double Oaked, a delicious Rye Whiskey and The Master’s Collection that offers a variety of grains and aging techniques. Regardless of the make, the whiskeys coming out of the distillery all age five to nine years and sold in small batches. Once what’s made for a year is sold, Woodford Reserve moves on to the next year.
Below you’ll find a photographic exploration of the Woodford Reserve tour, including a look at the classic process for producing quality American bourbon.
Woodford Reserve Distillery – Lexington, Kentucky
A tour of the Woodford Reserve Bourbon Distillery outside Lexington, Kentucky explores modern techniques making classic whiskey.
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Woodford Reserve Distillery – Lexington, Kentucky
All bourbon begins with tanks of sour mash. At Woodford Reserve, these 7,500 gallon, two story tanks allow the corn and wheat mixture to ferment for five to seven days.
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Woodford Reserve Distillery – Lexington, Kentucky
These giant stills at Woodford Reserve – essentially huge copper kettles — cook the sour mash and water mixes, distilling the alcohol.
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Woodford Reserve Distillery – Lexington, Kentucky
Bourbon barrels are toasted or charred to release the caramelized sugars from the wood, adding flavor and color to Woodford Reserve Bourbon.
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Woodford Reserve Distillery – Lexington, Kentucky
As bourbon ages in its barrels, the wood expanding and contracting during the seasons, roughly a third of the fluid evaporates and increases the alcohol content. That evaporation is the angel's share.
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Woodford Reserve Distillery – Lexington, Kentucky
Woodford Reserve offers personalized barrels for those willing to invest in one — preserving specially prepared wood blends for aging unique flavors.
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Woodford Reserve Distillery – Lexington, Kentucky
A barrel of Woodford Reserve Bourbon is tapped via its bunghole before its contents are purified and cooked down to about 90.4 proof.
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Woodford Reserve Distillery – Lexington, Kentucky
Once a barrel of Woodford Reserve is emptied, it passes through a purification process that prepares the barrel for bottling.
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Woodford Reserve Distillery – Lexington, Kentucky
Once bottled, Woodford Reserve Bourbon heads to shelves. As a small batch distillery, Woodford Reserve sells what it makes in a year until it's gone and doesn't produce more that year.
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Woodford Reserve Distillery – Lexington, Kentucky
Any good distillery tour should end with a full tasting, as demonstrated here at Woodford Reserve.
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Woodford Reserve Distillery – Lexington, Kentucky
Elijah, we hardly knew ye.
