Woodford Reserve® Introduces Bourbon Barrel Aged Cocktail Bitters

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Dec. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Woodford Reserve® bourbon and Bourbon Barrel Foods® have joined together to create a first-of-a-kind product – Woodford Reserve Spiced Cherry Bitters. The new Woodford Reserve bitters product enhances cocktails with an infusion of herbal essences, the bitterness of natural gentian root, the sweetness of cherry and spice notes all enriched by aging in barrels that previously matured Woodford Reserve bourbon. The bitters has been crafted to complement the premium flavors of Woodford Reserve and is intended to spice up both classic and modern bourbon cocktails.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121204/CL23639 )

Bitters has played a significant role in the traditional cocktail which by definition is a combination of a spirit, sugar, water and bitters.  Over time, bitters has become the quintessential ingredient used in cocktails to complement and bring out the flavor of the drink's base spirit. In this case, Woodford Reserve and Bourbon Barrel Foods have partnered to create a one-of-a-kind bitters which when used in a Woodford Reserve cocktail will highlight the flavors of the bourbon.

"We are excited to partner with Bourbon Barrel Foods once again and to continue to extend the Woodford Reserve brand with the release of the Spiced Cherry Bitters which perfectly complements our bourbon's unique flavor profile," said Chris Morris, Master Distiller for Woodford Reserve. "The use of the Woodford Reserve Spiced Cherry Bitters in a Woodford Reserve cocktail will highlight the bourbon's natural fruit and spice notes along with its smooth vanilla and caramel rich character."

With the resurgent classic cocktail trend, Woodford Reserve and Bourbon Barrel Foods also wanted to create the one-of-a-kind Spiced Cherry Bitters to highlight the distinct flavors characteristic to the classic "Manhattan" cocktail, as well as the premium spirit of Woodford Reserve.  Since its launch in 1996, the Woodford Reserve brand has found itself immersed in the world of mixed drinks and cocktails through a variety of programs including its "Manhattan" cocktail bartender competitions to its $1,000 Mint Julep program during the Kentucky Derby® of which Woodford Reserve is a primary sponsor.

"This collaboration with Woodford Reserve allows us to introduce a unique, Kentucky-crafted product fitting to both our brands," said Matt Jamie, owner of Bourbon Barrel Foods. "Natural gentian root, the standard bitter against which all others are measured, is blended with the flavor of cherries and bold spice and then enhanced by aging in barrels that previously matured Woodford Reserve Bourbon." 

Woodford Reserve Spiced Cherry Bitters has a suggested retail price of $15 for a 100ml bottle. The bitters product is available at www.woodfordreserveshop.com, the newly launched Woodford Reserve Online Store that features a selection of premium wearables, edibles, glassware and novelties. It can also be purchased at www.bourbonbarrelfoods.com and at the Woodford Reserve Distillery.

The Classic Manhattan Cocktail
2 oz Woodford Reserve
1 oz sweet vermouth
2 dashes Woodford Reserve Spiced Cherry Bitters
Stir with ice and strain (served up)
Stir and serve over ice (on the rocks)
Garnish all with an orange twist

Tasting Notes for Woodford Reserve Spiced Cherry Bitters
Aroma – Rich ripe black cherry with clove spice, anise and hints of vanilla, caramel and oak.
Taste – Spicy and bitter with hints of cherry and bourbon oak.
Finish – Hints of cherry, oak and spice linger on.

About Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve is a super-premium Kentucky "small batch" bourbon crafted at the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, KY. Woodford Reserve is the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby and its distillery is the oldest bourbon distillery in America. Woodford Reserve is a product of the Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE: BF-B), a producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands such as Jack Daniel's, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Korbel, Tequila Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, and Tuaca. Please enjoy your bourbon responsibly. For more information on Woodford Reserve, visit www.woodfordreserve.com.

About Bourbon Barrel Foods
Bourbon Barrel Foods is a producer of gourmet food products that reflect the rich history and heritage of Kentucky's bourbon country.  They produce the only small batch artisan soy sauce in America, Bluegrass Soy Sauce, as well as other products that are enhanced with re-purposed Woodford Reserve bourbon barrel; bourbon smoked spices and sugar, flavored sugars, barrel aged Worcestershire Sauce, and pure Kentucky sweet sorghum.  Their products have been featured in the New York Times, Food and Wine, Southern Living and Garden and Gun and on the shows "How it's Made" (Discovery), "America's Heartland" (PBS), and "Good Morning America." Select Bourbon Barrel Foods products are sold across the United States at Williams-Sonoma®, Whole Foods®, Dean & Deluca® and other fine retailers. For more information visit www.bourbonbarrelfoods.com.

©2012 Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45.2% Alc. by Vol., The Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY.

SOURCE Woodford Reserve