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Woodford Reserve vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Woodford Reserve and Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a new-wave, classically built craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve | Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 98.9 proof (49.5% ABV) +9 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $42 ~$24 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- 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
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 7 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a lower price point.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve); neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series).