Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Batch 121.2 Proof

Woodford Reserve Masters Collection Batch Proof 121.2 — the 2024 annual release of the Batch Proof series: the standard Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon bottled at the natural batch proof of 121.2 without water addition, presenting the full undiluted character of the selected barrels at 30.8 proof points above the standard 90.4.

The Batch Proof concept is simple by design. Woodford Reserve produces its bourbon the same way every year — the 72/18/10 mash bill, triple copper pot still distillation blended with column still whiskey, heat-cycled stone warehouse maturation. What changes in the Batch Proof is only the finishing step: instead of reducing to 90.4 proof with water, the batch is bottled at its natural proof. Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall selects roughly 120 barrels for each annual release and bottles at whatever collective proof those barrels have naturally reached — a number that shifts year to year based on the specific barrels selected.

The 2024 release at 121.2 was noted by reviewers for exceptional complexity and one of the longest finishes in the series — caramel apple fruit notes, vanilla, and a finish described as among the most persistent of any Batch Proof vintage.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Vanilla and caramel leading, with fruit notes and toasted oak; traditional Woodford Reserve character with the additional intensity that 121.2 proof provides
• Palate: Caramel apple, strawberry, vanilla, and significant oak; full-bodied and viscous with a strong Kentucky chew; more complex than the standard expression at every flavor note
• Finish: Exceptionally long — candied cherries, vanilla, wood sugars, baking spice, and oak; one of the more persistent finishes in the series

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: 60.6% (121.2 Proof)
• Release: 2024
• Size: 750ml

Browse the full Woodford Reserve collection at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Batch Proof? The same Woodford Reserve bourbon, not diluted. Standard Woodford is bottled at 90.4 proof after water addition. Batch Proof is bottled at the natural proof of the selected barrels with no water added.
• Why does the proof change every year? Barrel selection drives the number. Upper-floor barrels concentrate to higher proofs; lower-floor barrels to lower proofs. The 2024 vintage at 121.2 reflects that year's specific barrel mix of roughly 120 casks.
• How does the 2024 compare to other vintages? In the middle of the series range — between the series low of 118.4 (2022) and high of 128.3. Reviewers noted the 2024 as particularly complex with an unusually long finish.