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Woodford Reserve vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Woodford Reserve and Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a new-wave, wheat-forward craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 53% corn, 39% wheat, 8% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 106 proof (53% ABV) +16 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$35 – $42 ~$14 less | ~$50 – $55 |
- 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 Origin Series High Wheat
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/3 spice: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 3 out of 10
fruit 6/8 fruit: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 8 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 7 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 2 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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 Origin Series High Wheat: Because wheat makes up a massive 39% of the mash bill, this pour trades the aggressive spice of rye for a softer, oily mouthfeel. Expect bright fruit notes like ripe apricot and lemon on the nose, transitioning to pastry dough, light oak, and a creamy creme brulee sweetness balanced by a mild peppery backbone.
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 Origin Series High Wheat if you want a softer, fruit-forward, contemporary profile with a richer, oily texture and lower emphasis on traditional oak with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve); neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat).