All Barrels used in maturing Woodford Reserve are bespoke made at the Brown-Forman cooperage in Louisville, Kentucky.
A standard Woodford barrel stave is "seasoned" by exposure to the elements in the open air for around 3 to 5 months. This allows the wood to dry out, creating more tannins and spicy notes that will be transferred to the whiskey as it ages in the barrel.
A Seasoned Oak Barrel is made of staves seasoned in the open for 3 to 5 *years* which increases the flavours imparted by the wood and gives the whiskey an incredibly robust and spicy character.