Woodford Reserve 2015 Sweet Mash Redux 90.4 Proof 375ml a Masters Collection experimental expression revisiting the pre-Prohibition sweet mash production method, a fundamentally different fermentation approach from the sour mash process that defines modern Kentucky bourbon production.

Modern bourbon production almost universally uses sour mash fermentation: a portion of the previous batch’s spent mash (backset) is added to each new fermentation to maintain consistent pH and flavor continuity. The Sweet Mash Redux returns to the pre-Prohibition method starting each fermentation fresh, without backset, using only fresh water, grain, and yeast. The result is a bourbon with a distinctly different fermentation character: sweeter, lighter, and more delicate in its grain notes than the consistent sourness that defines the modern sour mash style. One of the more historically significant Masters Collection experimental releases.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Sweeter and lighter than standard Woodford Reserve fresh grain, caramel, and vanilla without the subtle tang of sour mash fermentation
• Palate: Delicate and sweet light caramel, vanilla, fresh grain, and the rounded triple pot still character in a softer, more approachable framework than standard bourbon
• Finish: Gentle and medium with clean grain sweetness and soft oak

Specs

• Distillery: Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Masters Collection, Sweet Mash
• Fermentation: Sweet mash (no backset) pre-Prohibition method
• Distillation: Triple copper pot still
• ABV: 45.2% (90.4 Proof)
• Release: 2015 Redux | Format: 375ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What is sweet mash vs sour mash? Sour mash adds spent backset from the previous batch to control pH and ensure fermentation consistency the standard modern method. Sweet mash starts each fermentation fresh without backset, producing a lighter, sweeter, less complex fermentation character closer to pre-Prohibition bourbon.
• Is sweet mash bourbon better? It is different lighter, sweeter, and more delicate. Sour mash produces more depth and complexity from the consistent pH environment; sweet mash emphasizes fresh grain sweetness. Neither is objectively better; they are stylistically distinct.
• What proof is the 2015 Sweet Mash Redux? It is bottled at 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) in a 375ml format as part of the Woodford Reserve Masters Collection.

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