Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Batch Proof 123.6

This is a very smooth high octane bourbon.

Nice nose. Full bodied and spicy through finish, though not as hard hitting as Bookers.

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!

Vanilla, brown sugar with an oily and spicy finish.