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Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond vs Woodford Reserve
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond and Woodford Reserve are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (100 vs. 90.4).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $50 | ~$35 – $42 ~$9 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/6 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 7/6 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond: Bardstown's own high-rye recipe, distilled on site rather than sourced. More than a third rye gives it a bright, minty, fruit-and-pepper profile over caramel and light oak.
- 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 Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond if you want a spicy, fruit-forward high-rye bourbon with the guarantees of a bonded label 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 slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).