Woodford Reserve Distillery

Established in 1996 on a historic site dating to 1812, Woodford Reserve Distillery is one of Kentucky's most respected bourbon producers and one of the few to employ copper pot stills alongside column distillation. Located in Versailles, Woodford County, and owned by Brown-Forman Corporation, the distillery occupies a picturesque position in the heart of bourbon country. Its whiskey is distinguished by refined complexity, balanced fruit and spice, and a commitment to traditional craftsmanship within the framework of modern consistency.

Quick Facts

• Founded: Modern distillery established 1996, historic site dates to 1812
• Location: Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky, United States
• Whisky region: Kentucky
• Whisky type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Ownership: Brown-Forman Corporation
• Signature expression: Woodford Reserve Bourbon
• Production hallmark: Copper pot stills combined with column stills—rare in bourbon production
• Mash bill: Corn, rye and malted barley
• Maturation: New charred American oak barrels in temperature-controlled warehouses
• House style: Dried fruit, toasted oak, vanilla, baking spice and balanced complexity
• Portfolio: Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Double Oaked, Rye Whiskey and limited Batch Series releases

A Historic Site Reimagined for Bourbon

The land on which Woodford Reserve now stands has been home to distilling since 1812, making it one of the oldest operating distillery sites in Kentucky. Originally known as the Old Oscar Pepper Distillery and later as Labrot & Graham, the property changed hands and names across two centuries before Brown-Forman acquired it in the early 1940s.

In 1996, Brown-Forman undertook an extensive restoration and reopened the site as Woodford Reserve Distillery, preserving its limestone buildings, native stone architecture and connection to Kentucky's bourbon heritage. The modern distillery honours its past while establishing a new identity rooted in small-batch precision and distinctive production methods.

Copper Pot Stills and Triple Distillation

Woodford Reserve is one of the few bourbon distilleries to incorporate copper pot stills into its production process. While most bourbon is made exclusively with column stills, Woodford Reserve employs three copper pot stills alongside a column still, allowing for greater control over flavour development and a more refined spirit character.

The whiskey undergoes triple distillation, a process more common in Scotch and Irish whiskey production than American bourbon. This extended distillation cycle produces a cleaner, more delicate new-make spirit that carries forward into maturation with clarity and balance.

The combination of pot and column distillation, triple distillation and a carefully composed mash bill creates the foundation for Woodford Reserve's signature house style: approachable yet layered, rich without heaviness, and structured for both immediate enjoyment and patient appreciation.

Maturation in Charred American Oak

Following distillation, Woodford Reserve bourbon is matured exclusively in new charred American oak barrels, as required by law for Kentucky Straight Bourbon. The distillery uses temperature-controlled warehouses to manage the seasonal fluctuations that drive interaction between spirit and wood, ensuring consistency across batches while allowing the bourbon to develop its characteristic dried fruit, caramel, vanilla and toasted oak profile.

Woodford Reserve Bourbon, the distillery's flagship expression, is widely recognised for its balance of sweetness, spice and structure. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked extends maturation by transferring fully aged bourbon into a second, heavily toasted and lightly charred barrel, adding depth, cocoa richness and a rounded mouthfeel.

Woodford Reserve Rye Whiskey, made with a high-rye mash bill, offers a spicier, drier counterpoint to the core bourbon. The distillery's Batch Series releases—including Malt, Wheat and limited experimental expressions—demonstrate Woodford Reserve's range and willingness to explore bourbon's stylistic boundaries while maintaining the refined character that defines the house.