Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Batch Proof 123.6

If a distiller doesn't bother to water down a whisky, is it on steroids? The quick and simple answer is no...it's the same whisky just without water. Sometimes this comes with non chill filtration which DOES give it a steroid like effect. Sometimes they pick honey barrels which does that tool. Or with ECBP you get older whisky. Woodford has elected to be woodford with less water, a fancy bottle, and a 100 dollar markup. Before we get to the whisky, warning. DO NOT ADD WATER! Nose - its' woodford. That dark chocolate, brown sugar, sweet and completely unrefined and entry level bourbon. Great brown foreman notes with a lesser expression of them behind it. A consistent as they come kinda of feel showing a great level of quality assurance, a big corporate feel, and yet an exceptional master distillery and blender involved to make this work. I can't express how much this smells like a higher proof woodford and just that. Taste - Here we deviate a bit in that the youth and unrefined nature of woodford comes out here and you can tell you're drinking spirit forward and younger whisky. You can tell they didn't take the time to find anything but regular woodford barrels for this. Sweet, chocolate, a touch of bannana, a bit of a dr pepper like note, and overall like woodford a good bourbon for us sweet lovers. The alcohol is harsh and over the top. I tried water and even a drop washes this away, the chill filtration just ruins the CS effort. I try and score whisky for what's in the glass and not more than that, but this one begs me to comment on the price and frankly the disgusting and just horrible choice for what I firmly believe is a chill filtered product, but I'll try and avoid that. Woodford is a highly enjoyable bourbon and I'm a huge fan of the double oaked. This is far inferior to the double oaked, it's not remotely close to that league. Instead this is the most boring and dull over the top high proof bourbon I've ever had. But it's got great bones for a young bourbon. 1.75 and I'm sure that's too high but I like woodford and I like higher proof. Even when it's ruined by stupid. The real shame is this just showcases what could happen if they aged this longer, picked honey barrels, and didn't chill filter. Woodford could put out not a world class bourbon but a world class whisky that could rival anyone. Instead that settle for mediocrity.

First pop is acetone and peaches. Odd. Color is a nice copper with quick legs. Lots of oak char, ethanol and underlying it some rye on the first whiff. The nose hairs feel a bit singed. As that recovers I get dried pineapple, some mint, a little cherry pie and warm spicy notes. So far, many layers that seem to work and evolve as it opens up. I’m even getting some roasted hazelnuts, vanilla cream and leather. Being Woodford, I feel like the nose always outshines the palate... this is warm, viscous, spicy and slow to travel down the throat and back out the nose. The finish is buttery with some toffee, oak and those dried pineapples. It’s a sweet finish but with hints of Second go I get more butterscotch and leather up front. The tannins are starting to show as the mouth tingles and the spice and heat linger in the chest. There’s some mint and oak hanging onto the back of the tongue as well. It leaves me wanting more. Minutes later I’m getting cacao nibs from the rye. Golly. It’s neither an easy sipper, nor is it cheap. For a NAS batch proof expression (as compared to my $50 bottle of 18-25 Noah’s Mill last night) this was a rip-roaring $140. That said, I got to tour the winding and beautiful back roads of Versailles (pronounced VeR-sale-s), KY and pick this up on the grounds of their beautiful distillery, complete with brick/stone rickhouses and a mossy old pond. I’m sold on the palate and finish for the first time with a Woodford product. This one keeps on giving. It makes me think of an OF 1920 turned up to 11. Not sure what that kind of witchcraft is supposed to cost. I would say it rivals Cream of Kentucky with regard to exclusivity, price and complexity but has better mouthfeel, more bite and lingering warmth. Both are $140 and both are fantastic for my empty-wallet self. This is a bit less balanced and more oak forward but has the higher proof and longer finish. A bit of water might bring them closer but I like it just as it is. Cheers!

This is a top notch bourbon in all aspects and I don’t agree with the negatives that I’ve been seeing this get (almost all are completely based on price and not the whiskey). I think most people who appreciate bourbon can agree that regular Woodford reserve is one of the most quintessential bourbons out there. Ever since I first tried Woodford, I wanted to know what the barrel proof would taste like and I finally got my answer. This is a much more rich bourbon than the regular Woodford with all the same notes. It has an oily consistency that coats the palate extremely well and provides a smooth and lasting finish. I get brown butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup up front. I get a big cherry bomb on the mid palate with a nice spicy oak finish that sticks with you. I don’t believe bringing this up along with the double oaked does either bourbon justice as they are not even remotely trying to come across as the same bourbon. Also, I believe it’s extremely important to not let price affect a review and just judge the whiskey based on the whiskey itself. All things considered, this taste very much like a top shelf bourbon. It’s complex, highly drinkable, and all around a unique experience. I paid MSRP and don’t regret it in the slightest. After all, the best whiskey is the whiskey you like the way you like to drink it.

The nose is a delightfully rich mix of oak, floral rye spice, black pepper, along with hints of cherry and ripe fruit. It comes across as being very full bodied, with a great depth to its various elements. The palate starts off hot, dry and chewy, filling the mouth with rye spice and black pepper. Softer notes of oak and cherry syrup follow, but it is definitely spice and heat forward with the first sip. The spice gradually mellows, but it is definitely the most dominant element which has it leaning towards being unfortunately unbalanced. The finish is long and spicy, with lingering pepper keeping the corners of the mouth tingling. This definitely had a lot of potential, but the spice throws it all off.

While I enjoy the standard Woodford offer I have never owned a bottle. The cask strength versions however I have enjoyed having around. This 2020 version is no different. Yes it’s on the high end of what I normally pay but it’s available and on the shelf and I think it offers a unique blend of flavors. I get that hint of cedar, oak, dried apricot, and leather on the nose. It smells wonderful. The palate is not super complex but extremely bold. Molasses, brown sugar, vanilla, tart cherry and sweet oak on the palate. The finish is long and showcases a really nice dose of vanilla, cocoa, white pepper, maple syrup and a dash of worn leather. It’s a pure pleasure of an experience.

I've had this bottle for several years and mostly use it in blind tastings. Just now realized I never wrote any notes on it. For the proof, the nose is light, but very nice. Cherries, prunes, cinnamon, bubble gum, and hay, but does not fill the sensory with alcohol. The palate follows suit with a slight floral note. Spice dominates but still very balanced. Finish is medium, with cinnamon fading to light apple amd finally dark chocolate. Less cherry than I usually pick up from Brown Foreman. Definitley over priced, but more nuanced than Old Forester 1920, and the bottle is gorgeous.