Wild Turkey Longbranch vs Woodford Reserve: Discover the Better!

Discover the differences between Wild Turkey Longbranch vs Woodford Reserve in this in-depth comparison and decide which bourbon is better for You!

Wild Turkey Longbranch

Nose	Caramel, mesquite, nutmeg, cinnamon
Palate	Caramel, rye spice, mesquite, vanilla, old leather
Finish	Maple syrup, mesquite
Alcohol content	86 proof (43% ABV)
How to drink	Rocks, cocktails
Similar to	Buffalo Trace, Maker’s Mark

The nose brings caramel at first, followed by a hint of mesquite wood, along nutmeg and cinnamon.

On the palate, Longbranch lacks a bit in body as it feels weak and thin. Flavor hits with caramel and rye spice at first, moving into mesquite, vanilla and old leather.

The finish has a moderate length, with a hint of maple syrup and more mesquite wood.

Longbranch is sweeter than the typical Wild Turkey Whiskey, but not as creamy and tasty as other releases.

Celebrity drams tend to be underwhelming and this is no exception as it lacks the distinctive flavorful notes of Wild Turkey while being a little too sweet.

It’s also a bit high in mesquite wood flavor which is the common theme from start to finish. But if you are fond of that particular note you are going to love it,

Overall, Longbranch is an OK bourbon appealing to those who like overly sweet drams or are fond of Matthew McConaughey’s movies.

Longbranch is presented as a collaborative effort between Wild Turkey Master Distiller Eddie Russell and Matthew McConaughey who moonlights as the brand’s Creative Director.

There are a few facts worth knowing about the Longbranch

• Aged for 8 years using heavily charred casks.

• Longbranch is filtered using Texas mesquite and Kentucky white oak charcoals. Texas and Kentucky are McConaughey and Russell’s home states, respectively.

• The mash bill is comprised of 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% barley.

• Longbranch is made using non-GMO grains.

• Wild Turkey is distilled since 1891 in Lawrenceburg, KY and is now part of the Campari Group located in Milan, Italy.

Woodford Reserve Bourbon

Nose	Mint, honey, vanilla, citrus
Palate	Sweet oak, cinnamon, mint, ripe fruit
Finish	Oak, caramel, baking spice
Alcohol content	90 proof (45% ABV)
How to drink	Neat
Similar to	Buffalo Trace, Maker’s Mark, Four Roses

Woodford Reserve (Substitutes) is pleasant and subtle on the nose, with hints of wood, mint, vanilla and caramel.

Palate is sweet and spicy yet entirely smooth. Some oak up front, but in moderation, along cinnamon, mint, and a sweet fruity note.

The finish brings additional sweetness, along oak, and satisfying warmth that lingers.

This bourbon is nicely balanced, body is creamy and does not have any off-putting or demanding notes reasons to make it one of the top-selling whiskeys.

It makes a great sipper due to its smoothness and is yet spicy due to rich cinnamon notes.

This is a sweet and mellow bourbon with the right level of heat that drinkers of all levels will appreciate alike.

Excellent everyday bourbon, smooth and clean, good both neat and on ice.

I find it somewhat weak to make great cocktails. I’d rather use the Woodford Reserve Rye that has many tasting notes in common but with additional rye in the mash making it more spicy and punchy.

There are a few facts worth knowing about the Woodford Reserve:

• Woodford’s mash bill is made from 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% barley; the rye content makes it a bit spicy.

• This bourbon ages for 7 years in one of the few warehouses that uses heat cycling. This process involves cooling and heating the air to closely control the aging.

• Earned gold and double gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

• The brand belongs to Brown-Forman who also owns Jack Daniel’s, Herradura Tequila, Old Forester Bourbon and a few other brands.

Longbranch vs Woodford Reserve: Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Whiskey	Price
Wild Turkey Longbranch	$40
Woodford Reserve Bourbon	$40

Longbranch vs Woodford Reserve: Which is better?

Woodford Reserve is a finer sipping bourbon

Whiskey	Longbranch	Woodford Reserve
Nose	✅	✅
Body		✅
Palate		✅
Finish		✅
Value		✅

• Woodford Reserve is a great sipping bourbon as it strikes a nice balance between sweet and spicy notes, along oak and the right amount of warmth.

• Is not an earth-shattering experience but gets the job done.

• Longbranch is not bad, but a little too sweet, typical of celebrity-sponsored liquors, too high in mesquite wood (which is not my thing) and a bit underwhelming and thin, to be honest.