Chocolate Whisper Redux builds off of two previous Woodford Reserve releases. Woodford Reserve’s 2019 Master’s Collection edition was a chocolate malted rye that delivered a sip that was equal measures flavorful and unique. The company found that the bourbon they made immediately after featured a degree of chocolate malt in its flavor profile. This resulted in a Distiller Series release in 2021 named Chocolate Malt Whisper. The company continued to age barrels from this original run an additional 4 years and let the proof run rampant this time around. In fact, Chocolate Whisper Redux is the highest proof offering to date from Woodford Reserve.

Chocolate Whisper Redux kicks things off with an inviting nose that is full of rich dark chocolate, berry compote, and caramelized sugar. Joining these incredibly pleasing scents, light toasted oak and faint vanilla add further definition, providing a more traditional backbone. Inhaling deeper reveals a hint of tobacco leaf. Considering its proof, ethanol is surprisingly lacking. This is a rich, full aroma that will instantly make you go “wow.”

The flavors at the midpoint are stacked in dense layers, and you're rewarded greatly for spending time dissecting them. The sip puts forward additional delicious chocolate notes of dark chocolate nibs, chocolate babka, and chocolate barley. Providing a reprieve from the chocolate is a mix of dark berry and dried cherry which break through. Combined with the chocolate notes, the flavors are akin to fruit covered in dark chocolate. A dried oak and light rye spice add further variation. Surprisingly, its high proof is manageable, allowing you to spend time enjoying this fantastic midpoint.

The finish carries through the theme of the whiskey, with chocolate notes being a key pillar. Dark chocolate pops, but an underlying light Whoppers candy note adds variation. Traditional notes of light leather, along with bold charred oak and rye spice, appear on the backend. The proof roars its head as a spicy heat envelopes your mouth and lingers. The finish takes on a noticeable chewy quality, which helps propel the heat and extend the sip, allowing it to go out on a high note.

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Woodford Reserve Chocolate Whisper Redux is an eye-catching bourbon from Woodford Reserve for many reasons. The fact that it’s really the third generation of a project that started in 2019. That it’s a 12 year old product, which is rare for the company to disclose. And the most eye-catching is its proof.

Simply, it’s the highest proof release from Woodford Reserve ever. Chocolate Whisper Redux blows past the brand's standard releases, which are proofed at 90.4, and even blows past their Batch Proof releases. Coming in at just below HAZMAT level wasn’t a coincidence either, as this bourbon isn’t actually a barrel proof release. While Woodford Reserve master distiller Elizabeth McCall has been quoted as saying this was the optimal proof for the best sipping experience, I can’t help but feel that there may have been an ulterior motive in proofing this down. By keeping it below 140 proof, Woodford is able to have a distillery exclusive that guests flying in to visit would be able to purchase and still pack in their suitcase to travel home with. Either way, there is no denying that the proof they chose actually works quite well for the sip, pulling out tremendous amounts of flavor without overpowering the drinker.

It has been fun following the progress of Chocolate Whisper Redux’s lineage over the years. I found the original whiskey from 2019 to be quite good, and while 2021’s release dipped a little, the additional age and higher proof make this a chocolate lover's dream. The sip produced is full of nuanced flavors, and it’s an absolute unique standout in Woodford’s long line of limited release products. Compared to other high proof bourbons on the market, Woodford Reserve Chocolate Whisper Redux absolutely holds its own and will easily have those who try it clamoring for Woodford to release more whiskeys that taste like this.

Woodford Reserve usually prices their limited edition Master’s Collection and Distillery Series as premium products. In the case of the Master’s Collection, the company branches off on two different paths, with their yearly Batch Proof offering, along with their more traditional Master’s Collection release, which changes in style every year. Those are usually priced around $150 and $180, respectively, for 700mL bottles. The Distillery Series has lately been priced between $60-$65 and is normally bottled in 375mL bottles. All that to say, Woodford has clearly priced Chocolate Whisper Redux at a premium that is higher than their normal limited edition releases.

There’s no denying that the bourbon market has skyrocketed in price. Pricing a 375mL bottle at $100 may seem extreme, but when you size that up to a 750mL bottle, $200 is becoming the new norm for limited releases. Considering it’s the highest proofed Woodford Reserve ever, and that it’s a 12 year old bourbon, the price actually seems more than reasonable. For a company that doesn’t shy away from luxury prices, I’m surprised the company didn’t charge more for this release, in all honesty. People will be up in arms about this statement, but the fact of the matter is, Chocolate Whisper Redux is slightly underpriced and could have supported a $25-$50 higher price tag considering its background and the sip it delivers.

It’s easy to say that because it’s higher aged and higher proofed, Chocolate Whisper Redux will automatically stand out in Woodford Reserve’s lineup of past limited edition releases. However, many distilleries have encountered the simple fact that age or proof alone does not make a great whiskey. This is a bourbon that leans into both of those traits well and utilizes the barrels it was finished in. The sip is rich and full of delicious flavors, living up to its name as a dark chocolate note weaves its way through the sip. Not only is it flavorful, it’s surprisingly balanced considering the proof it’s bottled at. It’s a whiskey that high proof lovers and bourbon drinkers who like unique flavor profiles will want to chase after, and sets the bar high for high proof releases in 2025.

Woodford Reserve whiskeys often get a lot of flak from die-hard whiskey drinkers as ones that never stand out or are as bold as they like. This often leaves people with a preconceived perception of the brand, and they automatically write off their releases due to this. Chocolate Whisper Redux smashes this conception and delivers what is arguably one of Woodford’s best releases to date.