The Esquire Manhattan, featuring Woodford Reserve

Sometimes, tradition is its own reward. And welcome challenge. Woodford Reserve, the small-batch bourbon from a national landmark distillery, uses a time-honored process so exacting and time consuming that every bottle is individually numbered with pride. While the distillery itself has historic roots, the effort to craft the very best American whiskey is continually renewed. “Our goal with Woodford Reserve,” says Master Distiller Chris Morris, “is to create the industry’s most complex and full-flavored bourbon yet also ensure it is uniquely smooth and drinkable.” Esquire mixologist and “drink historian” David Wondrich has developed a custom cocktail for Woodford Reserve, a sly and bracing take on the traditional Manhattan.