Woodford Reserve has announced the arrival of their 2020 Master’s Collection Batch Proof, clocking in this year at 123.6 proof.
Batch Proof isn’t the usual term you’d see on a high-proof bottle of bourbon. Cask strength and barrel proof are both popular terms, but Woodford selects specific barrels of their traditional bourbon to blend. These barrels are then “batched” and bottled without any water added.
“Most do not get to experience Woodford Reserve at such a high proof presentation, so we are excited to have the opportunity to share this special bourbon with connoisseurs,” said Master Distiller Chris Morris. “The intensity and depth of flavor found in Woodford Reserve Batch proof is truly remarkable.”
On the nose, we’re told to expect “dried cranberry and raisin fruit spiced with sandalwood, clove, aged leather, a hint of spearmint and a dusting of cocoa and dark chocolate to add to its deep character.” On the palate, the distillery tells us to look for “rich raisin and brown sugar sweetness balanced with a spicy leather character atop a rich layer of oak, almond and cedarwood notes,” and a “long finish of raisin fruit and malty sweetness.”
The distillery introduced the Batch Proof addition to their Master’s Collection in 2018, making this year’s the third release in the series. The Master’s Collection now features two annual releases – the Batch Proof in the early part of the year and the one-off, experimental releases each fall, like last year’s Chocolate Malted Rye.
The 2020 release of Woodford Reserve Batch Proof will begin appearing on shelves soon in limited quantities for around $130.
