Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Batch Proof 118.4

Bottle is empty. Tasting notes include candied peanuts, a subtle grilled peach essence, vanilla, cinnamon, spearmint, and ethanol. This bourbon's proof is evident; it's quite hot. The finish presents hints of rosin and wax candy, with more ethanol. My opinion on this bourbon has fluctuated significantly, starting at 3.5, then rising to 4.5, and now settling somewhere in between. While I appreciate high-proof spirits, this one feels overly hot. To compare, I sampled Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A124, which has a similar ABV (119.0 proof vs. Woodford's 118.4). Despite the slight proof difference, the Elijah Craig offers superior flavor depth and better balance with the alcohol. The Elijah Craig's smoothness contrasts sharply with the Woodford's rough texture. This particular Master's Collection batch is enjoyable but lacks balance. I would consider purchasing future Master's Collection releases when they become available, but I wouldn't go out of my way for them. A solid 4.0 rating.

Nose is very Brown-Forman with loads of cherry, brown sugar, vanilla, caramel, and a light hint of generic citrus (at gunpoint I’d say orange). Slight musty rickhouse note which I found intriguing. A hint of ethanol but forgivable at this proof point. Palate offers burnt sugars, ripe red cherry, leather, toffee, oak, tobacco, maple, and banana. Flavors are decadent and punchy. Finish is a slow morph into wood varnish, cinnamon, allspice, barrel char, and pink peppercorn. A tad short as I wanted it to go on because of how good it is. Cherry note persists through the finish, which is in no way a bad thing, as having it in the aroma, palate, and finish adds cohesiveness to the overall experience. Mouthfeel is very viscous and oily, coating every inch of the tongue. A high point. This is great; delivering all the things I like about some of the best Brown-Forman expressions with no discernible flaws. I paid..uhhh…$149 for this when I found it in the wild due to fear of missing out because this is a hard find in my area, and I might have a slight twinge of regret. But $30 cheaper (which I believe is MSRP) and that regret would be gone. Hard to call it a “value” but plenty of bang for your buck. Will buy future releases at retail.

My initial assessment of this bourbon in the summer of 2022 seems off. Tasting it after a Grenache from 2022 has provided context that reveals a surprising depth and a very long, peach-forward finish. The color is classically bourbonesque. The aroma presents apples, chocolate-covered cherries, pipe tobacco, cigar, toasted marshmallow, caramel, and a hint of spearmint. The palate is warm and coating with some glycerin, followed by a pleasant Kentucky Hug and lingering vanilla. The peach notes are now less prominent, possibly influenced by the preceding wine. Regardless, this is an excellent bourbon. I've always enjoyed Woodford's Master's Collection, and this review reflects a significant improvement over my previous scores. This is easily a 4.5. While I'm not typically a big Woodford fan, I consistently appreciate their Master's Collection and always seek out each new release.

Nose: Initially hot, then opened to fresh banana bread and sweet oak. Taste: Largely mirrors the nose, with added vanilla and caramel. A dark fruit note is present but unidentifiable. Still quite spirited even after significant aeration. Anticipate it mellowing out in a week or two. Its substantial oiliness provides excellent mouthfeel. Finish: Extended with a pleasant warmth. Conclusion: An excellent spirit, disregarding the price. (~4.6 overall) Pros: The flavor profile and proof are highly appealing. The bottle itself is an attractive display piece. It certainly doesn't present as young, which was a concern given the lack of an age statement. Cons: The cost is a drawback compared to Rare Breed and ECBP. Despite the difficulty in locating it, it's a one-time purchase at over $130 plus tax. I can't see justifying another bottle, even if it seems destined for the top 10 of 2022.

It's difficult to conceive of bourbon reaching a higher quality. Be cautious of the alcohol content, however: this is not the kind of bourbon you should be taking shots of or drinking in large gulps. Not that you would choose to, given the effort to find a bottle and the significant cost to acquire it. Take small sips and savor. The aroma is wonderfully sweet. It smells like rich, sugary confections such as caramel and maple syrup. A faint trace of vanilla is also present. The initial taste is a whisper of salted caramel, which then explodes into dark chocolate and toffee. As it starts to fade towards the finish, a hint of mint emerges as the chocolate recedes. The finish yields to a slight warmth from the alcohol mingled with some bitter, burnt wood. It's long and persistent, probably due to the proof. You also detect a subtle, familiar musty note, reminiscent of a leather jacket.

Strangely, I haven't been able to find any information about this bourbon online; I even had to create it here. I'm a big fan of other Woodford Reserve Master's Collection bottlings, so I took a chance on this. Clear dark mahogany. The nose shows leather, cigar box, roasted marshmallow, and a healthy amount of spearmint. A big hit of spicy heat (118.4 proof) on the palate, with secondary paraffin and vanilla notes. A long, peppery finish with vanilla on the tail. Good, but not as good as other Master's Collection offerings I've had from Woodford. N.B. All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.