Over the past two years, I have become quite a fan of Woodford Reserve’s annual Master’s Collection releases. So when I came across this bottle, I thought to myself, what would be a better way to end the year than with hopefully a great review of this year’s batch-proof release. So as you have probably gathered, today’s review comes from the Woodford Reserve Distillery and is the annual release of the Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Batch 124.7 Proof.

Bottle Information

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 2023 edition is 124.7 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).

• Distiller: Woodford Reserve
• Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
• Proof: 124.7
• Age: NAS
• Year: 2023
• MSRP: $129
• 2023 National Average: $200
• Official Website

When I first started this adventure and hobby, Woodford Reserve’s Master’s Collection bottles were not very available in NoCo. However, in 2023 something seemed to change, and I saw this release and several previous releases relatively abundant in many of my local stores; several still have this bottle on their shelf as I am writing this. Overall, this is a spectacular pour that reminds me of those iconic smells of the holidays mixed with a palate of vanilla caramel chews that were always present during my childhood. The nose is almost eggnog-like with the aromas of vanilla and nutmeg before turning on the palate to a traditional bourbon with a twist of childhood memories. With that said, let’s get our taste on!

• Nose: Almost Eggnog like with Vanilla and Nutmeg and Additional Notes of Oak, Leather, Brown Sugar, Mixed Nuts, and Dried Cherries
• Palate: Vanilla Caramel Candy Chews, Brown Sugar, Leather, Walnut, Cherry, Black Pepper, and Charred Dry Oak
• Finish: Medium to Long with Notes of Nutmeg, Oak, and Caramel
• My Rating: Drink It! (Nose is almost Eggnog like with the palate turning to Vanilla Caramel Candy Chews… Another great release!)

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™