Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Batch Proof 118.4

Woodford Reserve Masters Collection Batch Proof 118.4 — the 2022 annual release of the Batch Proof series and the lowest-proof vintage in the series to date: Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon bottled at 118.4 proof without dilution, the natural collective proof of that year's barrel selection.

Every Batch Proof release uses the same production as standard Woodford Reserve — the 72/18/10 mash bill, triple copper pot still and column still blend, heat-cycled stone warehouses. The proof is the only variable, set by whichever 120 or so barrels Master Distiller Chris Morris selected that year and their natural collective proof at bottling. The 2022 release at 118.4 was the lowest proof the series had reached — a fact Morris explained directly: more barrels from the first floors of Woodford's heat-cycled warehouses were in that year's composition. Lower-floor barrels experience more moderate temperature cycling, lose less to evaporation, and reach lower natural proofs than upper-floor barrels.

For collectors who enjoy comparing the Batch Proof series across vintages, the 118.4 offers the most accessible entry point into the series and a useful baseline comparison against higher-proof vintages.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Toasted oak, vanilla, caramel, rye spice, and fruit — the standard Woodford Reserve character with the added intensity of 28 proof points above the baseline
• Palate: Caramel, baking spice, dark fruit, vanilla, and charred oak — full-bodied and rounded, with the lower proof (relative to other vintages) making it the most approachable of the series
• Finish: Warm and medium-long with spice and oak tannin

Specs

• Distillery: Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Masters Collection Batch Proof
• Mash Bill: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley
• Distillation: Triple copper pot still + column still blend
• ABV: 59.2% (118.4 Proof)
• Release: 2022 (series low proof)
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Why was 2022 the lowest-proof Batch Proof vintage? Master Distiller Chris Morris explained that the 2022 batch had more first-floor warehouse barrels in its composition. Lower-floor barrels experience less aggressive temperature cycling, less evaporation, and concentrate to lower natural proofs than upper-floor barrels.
• Is lower proof a negative? No — it reflects that year's barrel selection. Lower proof means the batch is slightly more approachable neat, while still delivering the full Woodford Reserve character at 28 proof points above the standard bottling.
• What is Batch Proof? The same Woodford Reserve bourbon bottled at the batch's natural collective proof, without the water addition that reduces the standard expression to 90.4 proof.