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Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series vs Woodford Reserve
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series and Woodford Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, classically built craft style versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 98.9 proof (49.5% ABV) +9 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$35 – $42 ~$24 less |
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series: A blend of Bardstown's own young distillate with older sourced Kentucky whiskey, which is exactly what the name describes. Polished and fruit-leaning, and a clear demonstration that the blending is the skill on show.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series if you want a well-built modern blend that shows what careful blending does rather than what age alone does with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).