When I started delving into the world of bourbon, I had several people make recommendations of different bottles I should try. One of those most recommended bottles was Woodford Reserve Double Oak. I have tried this product and several other bottles from the Woodford Reserve Distillery and none of their products excite my palate. Unfortunately, I have a bad habit that when I dislike one or two bottles from a distillery, I shying away from purchasing anything from that distillery; please do not fall into this habit. Thankfully, a few weeks ago I was out bourbon hunting and came across today’s bottle of Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Batch Proof (118.4), and decided to give the distillery another chance.

From the Woodford Reserve website: Batch Proof is a celebration of Woodford Reserve’s proprietary process – blending barrels into a batch and then bottling the whiskey at its actual proof, straight from the barrel. Batch Proof is crafted using the same grain bill and process as Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon. The 2022 edition is 118.4 Proof.

Batch Proof, however, takes Woodford Reserve’s trademark flavor range of sweet vanilla and toasted oak to a whole new level offering consumers the privilege of tasting Woodford Reserve in its purest form (and not the standard 90.4 for which Woodford is known).

This bottle is quite available in NoCo, although dwindling in supply now, and at the time of writing this review, I still know three locations with multiple bottles. Overall, this bottle is an amazing cherry vanilla bomb with a twist of orange a the end. My only minor complaint was this pour left me wanting a bit more of a finish as the baking spices and vanilla melded so well together. I am very pleased that I gave the Woodford Reserve Distillery a second chance and am not afraid to say I was wrong. In all honesty, this is the first Woodford Reserve Product I have loved! With that said, let’s get our taste on!

• Nose: Cherry, Vanilla, Dark Chocolate, Orange Zest, Banana, and Oak
• Palate: Vanilla, Banana, Orange Zest, Dark Chocolate, Light Oak, and Nutmeg
• Finish: Short to Medium with Notes of Baking Spice and Vanilla
• 2023 MSRP: $129
• 2023 National Average: $299
• Proof: 118.4
• My Rating: Drink It/Save It! (In all honesty, this is the first Woodford Product I have loved!)

Please remember, drinking bourbon is a personal adventure, so do not be afraid to drink it neat, with ice, or add some water. It’s your bourbon, you bought it, and you should enjoy it how you want to enjoy it!

Cheers! Prost! Sláinte!

Bourbon Bossman