Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Batch Proof 118.4

Emptied bottle. Candied peanuts, a faint grilled peach note, vanilla, cinnamon. spearmint, ethanol. This bourbon doesn't hide its proof--it's hot. Finishes with a touch or rosin and wax candy--and more ethanol. My assessment of this bourbon has been all over the map: initially a 3.5 (6/19/22), then a 4.5 (10/8/25; perhaps inflated by a wine review beforehand?), and now somewhere in between. I'm a fan of high-proof whiskey, but this one comes across hotter than it should. To confirm, I went to my bar to grab a bottle of the closest proof I could quickly find, which turned out to be an Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A124, coming in at 119.0 proof (vs. the Woodford's 118.4). Different distillers, different mashbills; but I wanted to randomly pick a bottle with similar ABV for a reasonable comparison. Even though the A124 is a tad higher in proof, it has a better depth of flavor that is more in balance with the alcohol. The ECBP's silky smoothness highlights the Woodford's sandpapery grit. This batch of WR's Master's Collection is pleasant, but a bit out of balance. Would I buy it again? Each Master's Collection is unique, and I do consider picking one up when they are released, but don't go out of my way to get them. A gentleman's 4.0 on the Distiller scale.

Nose is very Brown-Forman with loads of cherry, brown sugar, vanilla, caramel, and a light hint of generic citrus (at gunpoint I’d say orange) Slight musty rickhouse note which I found intriguing. A hint of ethanol but forgivable at this proof point. Palate offers burnt sugars, ripe red cherry, leather, toffee, oak, tobacco, maple, and banana. Flavors are decadent and punchy. Finish is a slow morph into wood varnish, cinnamon, allspice, barrel char, and pink peppercorn. A tad short as I wanted it to go on because of how good it is. Cherry note persists through the finish which is in no way a bad thing as having it in the aroma, palate, and finish adds cohesiveness to the overall experience. Mouthfeel is very viscous and oily, coating every inch of the tongue. A high point. This is great; delivering all the things I like about some of the best Brown-Forman expressions with no discernible flaws. I paid..uhhh…$149 for this when I found it in the wild due to FOMO because this is a hard find in my area, and I might have a slight twinge of regret. But $30 cheaper (which I believe is MSRP) and that regret would be gone. Hard to call it a “value” but plenty of bang for your buck. Will buy future releases at retail.

Not sure where my head was when I first reviewed this bourbon in the summer of 2022. I’m sipping this after reviewing a 2022 Grenache—context always affects taste—but I’m taken aback by the depth and very long, peach-infused finish. Very bourbonesque color. And nose: apples, chocolate-covered cherries, pipe tobacco, cigar, toasted marshmallow, caramel, and a little spearmint. Warm, mouthcoating palate with some glycerin, finishing with a nice Kentucky Hug and lingering vanilla. The peaches are now distant and appear to be in part a function of the wine before it. No matter: this is very good. I’ve always been a fan of Woodford’s Master’s Collection. I’ve never had a full-point deviation in a review, but I do here. This is easily 4.5 on the Distiller scale. I’ve never been a big Woodford fan, but I’ve always been a huge fan of their Master’s Collection, and always look to buy each release.

Nose: Heat at first, but this slowly opened up to fresh banana bread & sweet oak. Taste: It follows the nose for the most part, but add in vanilla and caramel notes. There is a dark fruit element that I can’t pinpoint. It was still pretty hot even after airing it out a while. Hopefully this will calm down in a week or two. It’s very oily which coats the mouth well. Finish: Long finish with a nice hug Conclusion: It’s a great whiskey if you don’t factor the cost. (~4.6 overall) Pros: I love the flavor profile and the proof point. It’s a cool looking bottle to have on the shelf too. This doesn’t taste young at all (no age statement had me nervous). Cons: The price sucks when you compare it with Rare Breed & ECBP. It took me a while to find it, but it’s a 1 & done at $130 +tax. I can’t justify a backup even if I think it’s a lock for top 10 of 2022.

It is hard to imagine bourbon getting much better than this. Be wary of the proof though: this is NOT the type of bourbon you want to take shots of or take long gulps from. Not that you would, if you went through the trouble of locating a bottle AND coughing up a pretty penny to purchase it. Slow sips, savor. The nose is deliciously sweet. It smells of thick, sugary sweet things like Caramel and Maple Syrup. You do catch a little hint of Vanilla too. The taste starts with a hint of salted caramel then bursts into dark chocolate and toffee. As it fades toward the finish, you'll catch a wisp of mint as the chocolate tapers off. The finish gives way to a little alcohol heat swirled with some bitter charred wood. Its long and lingering, likely from the proof. You also catch a faint hint of something familiar and musty, like a leather jacket.

Strangely, I've not been able to find any information whatsoever about this bourbon online; I even had to create it here on Distiller. I'm a big fan of other Woodford Reserve Master's Collection bottlings, so I took a flyer on this. Clear dark mahoghany. Nose shows leather, cigar box, roasted marshmallow, and a healthy dose of spearmint. Big hit of spicy heat (118.4 proof) on the palate, with secondary paraffin and vanilla. Long peppery finish with vanilla on the tail. Good, but not up to other Master's Collection offerings that I've had from Woodford. N.B. All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.