Woodford Reserve just dropped an experimental new bourbon
Woodford Reserve just dropped Super Seasoned Oak, the 22nd release in its Master's Collection. Master distiller Elizabeth McCall aged the bourbon about nine years in barrels whose staves were seasoned outdoors for five to seven years—far longer than the usual one. The limited $180 bottle shows sweet orange, cherry, and spice at 100.4 proof.
Key Takeaways
- Super Seasoned Oak is the 22nd expression in Woodford Reserve's Master's Collection, led by master distiller Elizabeth McCall.
- Barrel staves were seasoned outdoors for five to seven years, versus the usual one-year seasoning for bourbon wood.
- The whiskey uses Woodford's core mashbill—72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley—and matured about nine years at 100.4 proof.
- Suggested retail is $180; it launched at select Kentucky retailers and the distillery gift shop earlier this week.
What did Woodford Reserve just drop in the Master's Collection?
Woodford Reserve just dropped Super Seasoned Oak as the latest experiment in its Master's Collection, a series built for innovation in mashbill and maturation. For the 2026 release—the 22nd in the lineup—McCall zeroed in on wood prep rather than a wine finish or ultra-rare blend.
Prior Master's Collection bottles have included Madeira Cask Finish, Sonoma Triple Finish, and Very Fine Rare Bourbon. This time, the story is extended outdoor seasoning of the oak itself, then precise barrel craftsmanship around that wood.
"With Super Seasoned Oak, we showcase how extended outdoor wood exposure and precise barrel craftsmanship can elevate the spirit," McCall said in a statement, "delivering an intensely rich, deeply structured profile that collectors and connoisseurs will instantly appreciate."
How does Super Seasoned Oak differ from standard bourbon barrels?
Standard bourbon barrel wood is typically seasoned outdoors for about a year to dry the staves, dial back tannins, and set up flavor once spirit hits the cask. For Super Seasoned Oak, that outdoor seasoning ran five to seven years—much longer than the norm.
Those barrels were filled with bourbon from Woodford's core mashbill and left to mature for roughly nine years. Early tasting notes from Robb Report describe a deep amber-red color, sweet orange and cherry on the nose, then dark berries, apple cobbler, maple, vanilla, cinnamon, and black pepper on the palate, with a warming finish.
Proof sits at 100.4, about 10 degrees above regular Woodford Reserve—enough heat to carry the spice without burying the fruit and dessert notes.
Where can you buy Super Seasoned Oak, and who is it for?
This is a limited release. It first hit select Kentucky shops and Woodford's gift shop earlier this week at an SRP of $180. If you are not heading to the Bluegrass State soon, secondary-market listings are expected to appear over the coming weeks.
Collectors chasing allocation-style pours often track the same premium lifestyle beat as high-end homes and retreats. For more of that coverage, browse our Luxury Real Estate & Dream Homes hub alongside spirits drops like this one.
Bottom line: Woodford Reserve just dropped a wood-forward Master's Collection bourbon aimed at people who care how long the oak lived outside before it ever held whiskey—and who move fast when Kentucky shelves clear.