Compare
Woodford Reserve vs Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Woodford Reserve and Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 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 | Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 15% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) +3 proof | 87 proof (43.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$35 – $42 | ~$40 – $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.
Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Didn't care for this one.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/2 spice: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 2 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 4 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 4 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10, Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon 3 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.
- Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon: A farm-to-bottle wheater from northern Illinois. Soft red winter wheat keeps it gentle and bready, with caramel and vanilla up front and very little bite at 87 proof.
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 Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon if you want a soft, easygoing wheated bourbon made start to finish on one Midwest farm.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve); rocks, highball, cocktails (Whiskey Acres Straight Bourbon).