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.