An Evening to Remember: Woodford Reserve’s Newly Released Master’s Collection Madeira Cask Finish
There’s nothing like an event that celebrates women, great whiskey, and memorable art all around. San Francisco’s best influencers and writers all came together at the gallery inside the Foreign Cinema to celebrate the launch of Woodford Reserve’s Master’s Collection Madeira Cask Finish and Elizabeth McCall, the woman behind its creation. Having no prior experience to whiskey tastings, I came with 0 expectations and left with a newfound appreciation for whiskey. Nothing like a woman’s touch to a masculine drink. It makes every sip taste like fireworks in your mouth.
About Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve is a renowned premium brand of bourbon whiskey produced in Kentucky, the heartland of America’s bourbon production.
Located in Woodford County, the distillery is steeped in history and tradition, operating since the early 1800s. Famous for its rich, full-bodied flavor profile, Woodford Reserve is crafted using a unique process that includes a triple distillation in copper pot stills—a method uncommon in American bourbon production.
Additionally, the bourbon matures in new charred oak barrels, which creates deep, complex flavors and a smooth, balanced finish. Recognized globally for its high quality and distinctive taste, Woodford Reserve offers a variety of expressions, including the Classic Malt, Double Oaked, and Rye Whiskey, each providing a unique tasting experience that reflects the artisanal spirit and heritage of its Kentucky origins.
Elizabeth McCall, the Youngest Female Master Distillers in the US
As Elizabeth McCall graced us with a speech on how she became the youngest female master distiller, she also dove into other parts about whiskey, such as how they’re made, the importance of the casking process, and the 3 different sniffs and sips you take when properly drinking whiskey.
With passion and expertise, she explained the uniqueness of Woodford Reserve’s approach to blending and batch consistency, emphasizing the care taken in every step from grain selection to bottling.
McCall also took the time to mention how each element, from the mineral-rich waters of Kentucky to the charred oak of the barrels, contributes to the complexity and rich character of the final product. Her story was indeed very inspiring and educational. It’s always great to hear someone so passionate about their craft. You can genuinely feel it.
Whiskey vs Wine Tasting
The juxtaposition between a whiskey and a wine tasting is clear: wine tastings focus on grape flavors influenced by the local environment, while whiskey tastings explore the impacts of distillation and aging on the flavors derived from grains. Wine is all about the grape and its origins, whereas whiskey is about the transformation over time and the craft of the distiller. These are things I didn’t know prior to this event.
What is a Madeira cask?
So, speaking of wine, in case you’re just as much as a newbie as I am in the world of whiskey, allow me to share what makes a Madeira cask so special.
A Madeira cask is a type of barrel used in the aging and flavoring of spirits, which previously held Madeira wine. Madeira is a fortified wine from the Madeira Islands, a Portuguese archipelago. The wine is known for its distinctive production process where it undergoes heating and oxidation, giving it a unique flavor profile that includes notes of caramel, roasted nuts, and stewed fruit.
When spirits such as whiskey are aged in Madeira casks, they absorb some of the complex flavors and characteristics of the Madeira wine that once filled those barrels. This can add layers of richness, sweetness, and a certain depth to the whiskey’s flavor profile, making it a sought-after finishing process for premium and craft spirits. The use of Madeira casks for finishing whiskey is part of a broader trend in the spirits industry to experiment with various types of wine and spirit cask finishes to create unique and complex flavors.
So, in other words, no wonder I really enjoyed sipping on the Woodford Reserve’s Master’s Collection Madeira Cask Finish. It was complimented by wine.
Woodford Reserve Whiskey Tasting with a 3 Course Dinner
I was very excited to pair the four different types of whiskeys with my three course dinner. For the first course, I opted for the Winter Minestrone Soup, which comes with shelling beans, winter squash, farro, tomato, and thyme, and for the second course, I chose to have the Grilled Akaushi Wagyu Bavette Steak, which was accompanied with Italian white beans, grilled broccoli rabe, Toybox cherry tomatoes, and salsa verde. Dessert was a Chévre Cheesecake, which was complimenterd by Huckleberry sauce and pluots.
Every bite was absolutely delightful, and the whiskeys added a nice warmth and elevation to the flavors that were already happening in these dishes.
I’ve never had a whiskey tasting with a meal before, so this was a pleasant first time experience.
Purchase Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Madeira Cask Finish
If you’d like to order a bottle or try it yourself, be sure to check the Woodford Reserve website or your local liquor store for availability.
Due to its exclusive nature and limited release, availability may vary.
For those in regions where shipping is permitted, you can directly purchase from the Woodford Reserve online shop. If you live outside the shipping zones, consider reaching out to specialized whiskey retailers who may offer shipping to a broader range of locations.
This dinner left me inspired and wanting to try more whiskeys out there. What other whiskeys should I try? Let me know!
