Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Batch Proof 121.2

Until recently, I foolishly thought that Woodford's Batch Proof was the same every year so I never bothered to purchase another bottle after my first tasting a few years back. Oh the horror. This year I am righting that wrong. 2024's release is bottled at a lofty 121.2 proof and like previous years, the proof doesn't burn with regret. The nose does have an undercurrent of ethanol from proof but nothing more than expected. Vanilla with brown sugar carries a wave of baking spices making for a very delicious, classic bourbon scent profile. The taste opens sweet with brown sugar and a dusting of cocoa powder. Interestingly I don't taste much vanilla but perhaps it gets washed away by the sweet and spicy cinnamon sugar bomb mid taste. As that spice and accompanying tongue prickle smolder away, tannic oak takes center stage to dry up the taste. Oak carries into the finish and there's not much else happening but the finish is long and oily. There's a faint tartness.. some kind of berry on the finish but I can't really decipher it past the oak. Overall another solid release. Now that I am more in the know about Woodford's Batch Proof releases, I will be sure to keep my eye out for each and every special release.

Nose wows with black cherry, old mahogany furniture, brown sugar, creme brûlée, saltwater taffy (?), newspaper pulp. cola, sun dried tomato, and Spanish peanut. Ethanol is low for the proof. I could nose this forever. Palate brings black cherry, gooey chocolate syrup, the crème brûlée from the nose, sticky pipe tobacco, toasted wood, French vanilla, overripe date, and a musty flavor that I can’t quite put my finger on, so I’ll call it “rickhouse funk”. A very “dark” tasting whiskey. Flavors are extremely rich and punchy. Medium length finish gets sharply spicy. Cinnamon, pink peppercorn, an almost charcoal like barrel char, bitter oak, leather, berry, and some unattenuated ethanol. Tart sour cherry after everything else fades. Kind of a letdown with how fast it morphed into a spice bomb. Mouthfeel is unctuous and extremely oily which would be fantastic if the finish was better. I picked this up at Total Wine for under MSRP at $120, and I’m not unhappy with it per se. The best comparison is probably Elijah Craig barrel proof, which is often better for a lower price. That said, I liked it but I feel this this could have been great and due to the flawed the finish winds up being just in the “good” catagory.

Brown sugar, caramel and marshmallow notes are prominent on the nose. Some more subtle hints of orange citrus notes, vanilla and nuttiness also appear. Ethanol notes are also present on nose when going too deep. Intial sip is sweet, full of caramel and vanilla. Mid-palate gives way to a toasted oak and a spicy heat. Long finish that is drying and presents notes of dark chocolate and espresso.

Hot as expected all the way through. Some hidden layers of wood oak and sweetness but the heat masks much if it. I am interested to compare in a blinded line up of cask strengths though. Not sure this is worth the MSRP price point on first pour.

Drinks hot. I’m still getting into “higher proof bourbons” and I enjoy some, but this one drinks hot. Reminds me of Four Roses SB Barrel Strenth. Did a blind against Stagg Jr and I picked the Stagg but some others picked this… so it’s comparable.

Semi-rich mouthfeel with a dried fruit, brown sugary sweetness. Also has a bit of oak. It drinks well below it’s proof. Many layers of flavor with medium to long finish. My only gripe is the 700ml bottle, why?!?