Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Batch Proof 118.4

Tried neat. On the nares I get cherries, spearmint. On the palate it’s smooth with a hot finish with notes of char, nuts, leather, and slight maple syrup. I will let this open up next time and come back when I have more time!

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.

Nose: tobacco, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla and leather Palate: tobacco, oak, a bit of orange zest. This is delightful and delicious Finish: lingers a bit. For the proof it’s really an easy sipper. Overall: this is deep complex and delicious. 4.5/5 stars. It contains sweet notes round off with oak and tobacco. It’s like yesteryear in a glass. 👏🏿👏🏿 bravo

As with all Woodford Reserve Batch Proofs, this one is solid. Great wood influence along with stellar distillation. Rich, evocative notes of oak, tobacco leaf, young leather, dark toasted bread, baking spices and a hint of apple cider all come together in a cohesive whole. The flavors tone down with a splash of water, but they each retain their prescence. A really nice bourbon that is a welcome addition to the annual WR portfolio.

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.