Many years ago, on one of my first business class flights.. I was told this story, from an 80+ year old man that I believed.... he said:
Brown-Forman was doing an inventory assessment, and they found a large “set aside” of barrels of Old Forester that were “off-spec”, for one reason or another... They tasted them, and thought they were exceptional. They held it for a few years, while they tried to copy the production formula.
After 4 years, they released it as ‘Woodford Reserve’.. and then, they worked overtime to copy the formula. They did... but, bottom line... Woodford was a MISTAKE, that turned out good.
I don’t know if this is true... for sure. But, I believe what the old guy told me.
Then again.. maybe, I should STAY retired. I don’t see well enough to see my mistakes.... lol
Give me a copy editor, and I could make millions for these bourbon producers.