Woodford Reserve Bumps Up Proof In New Limited Edition Offering

Woodford Reserve is normally known as a mainstream bourbon with a rather easy 90.4 drinking proof. The distillery’s master distiller, Chris Morris, believes drinkers out there are ready to experience it in a limited fashion at a higher proof, and thus Brown-Forman is set to debut a so-called “batch proof” variant as part of its Master’s Collection bottlings.

The new Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Batch Proof, according to those behind it, is a new way to tell the story of the five flavor sources – water, grain, fermentation, distillation, and maturation – which are behind each expression of this bourbon. For Batch Proof, it is crafted using the same grain bill and process as the regular bourbon, but is then drawn from a select batch of barrels in a more raw, uncut form before being bottled at a much more hearty 125.8 proof.

“As master distiller, I have the privilege of tasting Woodford Reserve in its purest form – unfiltered and uncut, straight from the barrel,” said Morris in a prepared statement. “Most do not get to experience the intensity of the aromas and the smoothness of the whiskey at a higher proof point, with this innovative new release whiskey lovers will have the chance to taste Woodford Reserve the way the masters taste it.”

As this is a Master’s Collection release, it will be available in limited quantities for around $130 a bottle. Official tasting notes for this orange amber colored bourbon are below for your consideration.

• NOSE: A complex medley of wood spice notes including smoked cedar, dark chocolate, pineal and vanilla are balanced with hints of orange zest, grilled pineapple and cherry fruit. Sweetened with a trace of marzipan, peppermint and malt.
• TASTE: Dark chocolate drizzled over toasted almonds, hazelnuts and malty shortbread spiced with hints of leather, cedar and nutmeg.
• FINISH: Rich aged leather spice and dark chocolate lead to a crisp dry finish.