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Chris Morris is Master Distiller Emeritus for Woodford Reserve. In 1996, Morris helped create the new bourbon and grew it into a global brand. The mastermind behind Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, Rye, and Master’s Collection, Chris knows the keys to making good whiskey are time and patience, but having a sense of good craftsmanship is also a ...
Chris Morris. Chris Morris is Master Distiller Emeritus for Woodford Reserve. He was an integral leader in the development and global growth of Woodford Reserve, serving as Master Distiller for 20 years, from 2003-2023. In his emeritus role, Morris advises Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall and works as a brand ambassador, leading VIP experiences.
- Beverage Dynamics: What’s This Woodford Reserve Anniversary Mean to You?
- Bd: Why Did Brown-Forman Take That Chance?
- Bd: What Has Changed in Your Mind During 25 years?
- Bd: Why Was Woodford Reserve So Early to Embrace Bourbon Tourism?
- Bd: What’s Next For Woodford Reserve?
Chris Morris:It’s really hard to believe. Twenty-five years has gone by in a blink. But it’s been an amazing 25 years. Looking back, when Woodford Reserve launched and opened for consumer visits, thinking about the state of the industry then versus now, it really is an unbelievable accomplishment. Bourbon had been in a state of decline for 20 years...
CM:Because Brown-Forman is an old bourbon company, founded in Kentucky. We take a lot of pride in our industry, and have the desire to keep it going. Opening Woodford Reserve was a dynamic moment for the industry. Obviously we didn’t bring back bourbon all alone, but we gave the industry a new reach. Twenty-five years later, there are more than 70 ...
CM:When we launched Woodford Reserve, all we ever heard was that bourbon wasn’t innovative. Scotch was innovative, but we weren’t. That got my competitive juices going. I’m really proud of the role we’ve played in introducing new grain recipes and barrel finishes to the industry, like our chardonnay and maple finishes. We’re taking risks to make a ...
CM:First, I obviously have to bring up that Maker’s Mark always had their tourism experience. For a long time, that was it. They kept the candle lit in the window. I give Bill [Samuels] and Maker’s Mark a lot of credit. For me, I’ll never forget a trip I took to Scotland to visit a single malt distillery owned by our company. I had a revelation the...
CM:Our Doubled Oak is becoming a brand within a brand, a real standalone. I see that fine expression continuing to grow with its own programming and personality. Our Master’s Collection and Distillery series will continue on, with more growth and innovation ahead, thanks to Elizabeth. Our Baccarat release, that was going to be a firestorm launch, b...
Feb 18, 2017 · The other current line extension is Woodford Reserve Rye – spun off from the Rare Rye Selection of 2011. Photo Credit: Woodford Reserve / Chris Morris. Support Structures. To manage his hundreds of experiments – many of which stretch across years – Morris has an enormous support system available to him.
Dec 10, 2020 · Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris. Chris Morris is one of those rare master distillers who become synonymous with whiskey. His four-decade career includes shaping Woodford Reserve into the innovative, global brand it is today, and now also distilling Old Forester with similar intentions. Raised in the industry — his parents ...
Nov 9, 2021 · It helped reintroduce the world to premium bourbon, and in doing so, has thrived through the years. Woodford Reserve celebrates 25 years in 2021. We recently spoke with Master Distiller Chris Morris about this anniversary, and watching a brand he helped create grow with the category as a whole.
In 1997, Chris was named Apprentice Master Distiller working for Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson, the creator of Woodford Reserve. In 2002 Chris developed the Bourbon Flavor Wheel and in 2003 Henderson retired and Morris succeeded him as only the second Master Distiller in Woodford Reserve’s short history but also appointed as only the ...
