Just hitting the market this month comes Woodford Reserve’s latest limited-edition bourbon, aged in specially treated barrels to create a distinct flavor profile.

With its Seasoned Oak Finish, Woodford Reserve ages the new make spirit in over-seasoned oak which has been exposed to extreme weather conditions for up to five years before being fashioned into barrels. Interesting approach, but it certainly has an effect on the finished product.

This fourth installment of Woodford’s “Master’s Collection” is intensely dark in color and even bigger in flavor. Spice is huge — with cinnamon, candied fruits, and brandied cherries all dancing on the palate. The body is warming and lightly oaky, with only a touch of harsh bitterness on the finish impacting what is otherwise a classic, frontier-style bourbon that is definitively not for the faint of heart.

100.4 proof.

A- / $90 / woodfordreserve.com