a special commemorative bottle it releases annually in conjunction with its official sponsorship of the Kentucky Derby. Master Distiller Up until 2023, the Master Distiller of Woodford Reserve was Chris Morris (a position he has held since 2003) and the Assistant Master Distiller was Elizabeth McCall. In 2023, Elizabeth McCall was named Master Distiller of Woodford Reserve with Chris Morris to serve as Master Distiller Emeritus. McCall had been with Brown-Forman since 2009, and was previously the Woodford Reserve Assistant Master Distiller. Reviews and accolades International Spirit ratings organizations and liquor review bodies have generally given Woodford Reserve solid scores. At the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Woodford Reserve's best performances have been in 2005 and 2013, winning a double gold medal each time. It has also won gold (2006–2007, 2011–2012) and silver (2008, 2010) medals at this annual event. The Beverage Testing Institute has given the Reserve scores of between 90 and 91 and Wine Enthusiast awarded it a 90–95 point rating. Spirits ratings aggregator proof66.com, which averages scores from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Wine Enthusiast, the Beverage Testing Institute, and others, had Woodford Reserve ranked in its highest ("Tier 1") scoring category until 2016, and subsequently had it ranked as "Tier 2". Limited edition releases In 2022, Woodford Reserve the Honey Barrel Finish as part of their Distillery Series. This expression is a Woodford Reserve Bourbon finished in barrels that once stored local honey from Woodford County, Kentucky. Marketing activities The Woodford Reserve Distillery offers tours and is part of the American Whiskey Trail and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. In a contract arrangement with Churchill Downs, Woodford Reserve has been declared the "official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby" and is used in a $1,000 mint julep cocktail that is sold to patrons on Derby Day. Funds from the $1,000 Mint Julep Program are donated to charitable causes. Although Woodford Reserve is the Derby's "official bourbon," its sister brand, Old Forester, serves mint juleps as the "official drink" and is featured in the more moderately priced juleps at the event. Woodford Reserve's parent company Brown-Forman has entered into a five-year deal with Churchill Downs to become the title sponsor of the Kentucky Derby after Yum! Brands pulled their sponsorship. The "Greatest Two Minutes in Sports" will now be called "the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve." See also List of bourbon brands List of historic whisky distilleries