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Woodford Reserve vs Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year
Comparing Woodford Reserve and Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve | Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 7 years |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$35 – $42 | ~$35 – $45 |
- 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.
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/4 fruit: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 7 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year: Seven years, bonded, and priced sensibly — the specification sheet reads like something from twenty years ago. Balanced and oak-leaning without ever getting heavy.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong.
- Go with Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year if you want a bonded, age-stated Kentucky bourbon that gets the fundamentals right for under forty dollars with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year).