Woodford Reserve Maple Wood Finish bourbon

Is there a Bourbon Baby in your life? Here's a special bottle that could make that person very happy. Woodford Reserve has just unveiled the fifth edition of its extremely limited annual Master's Collection, an innovative series that's produced some gorgeous twists on Kentucky's distilling tradition, from reviving an antique sweet mash recipe to aging with seasoned oak staves. This year's "Maple Wood" experiment - bourbon aged an extra year in toasted sugar maple barrels - is the best yet.

Made from entirely pot-still bourbon, it's darker and considerably more intense than standard Woodford, with the deep amber sweetness of maple balancing the "high rye" spice, letting the flavors of apricot, brown sugar, licorice, and mint shine through. Just 300 bottles are to be released at $89.99 in Pennsylvania on Dec. 2. It's pricey, true. But it's also one of the most delicious whiskeys I've ever sipped, and, amazingly, it's $10 cheaper than in Kentucky.

- Craig LaBan
Woodford Reserve Maple Wood Finish, $89.99 (3107) in select State Stores and at www.finewineandgoodspirits.com