New Woodford Reserve blends from 100 barrels, is one of its strongest bourbons released

What do you get when you blend together more than 100 barrels of high-proof premium Woodford Reserve?

You get Woodford Reserve Batch Proof, the annual limited-edition Kentucky bourbon that is one of the brand’s highest proof bottle releases all year. It’s part of the distillery’s Master’s Collection.

Normally, Woodford Reserve is 90.4 proof, but this year’s Batch Proof is 121.2.

Batch Proof is created from batching 100+ different Woodford Reserve barrels together, then bottling the result, according to a news release.

“Barrels drawn from the upper floors of our heat-cycled warehouses tend to possess higher proof presentations including this limited-edition batch,” said master distiller Elizabeth McCall. “Batch Proof allows consumers to taste Woodford Reserve exactly as it comes out of the barrels.”

The limited-edition premium bourbon for 2024 is available to buy in select markets and in limited quantities at Woodford Reserve Distillery outside Versailles. It has a suggested retail price of $149.99.

According to the tasting notes, this year’s version has a nose of vanilla bean, brown sugar pecans, tropical citrus fruits with a dusting of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. On the palate, it’s sweet toasted oak, cocoa, juicy pineapple, dried strawberry and spiced berries, with a finish of dried strawberry, toasted oak and raw honey.

This story was originally published February 8, 2024 at 11:27 AM.

Janet Patton

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-379-5233

Janet Patton covers restaurants, bars, food and bourbon for the Herald-Leader. She is an award-winning business reporter who also has covered agriculture, gambling, horses and hemp. Support my work with a digital subscription