{"product_id":"woodford-reserve-masters-collection-batch-proof-118-4","title":"Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Batch Proof 118.4","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWoodford 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.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eNose:\u003c\/strong\u003e Toasted oak, vanilla, caramel, rye spice, and fruit — the standard Woodford Reserve character with the added intensity of 28 proof points above the baseline\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePalate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Warm and medium-long with spice and oak tannin\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecs\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDistillery:\u003c\/strong\u003e Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, Kentucky\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eStyle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Masters Collection Batch Proof\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eMash Bill:\u003c\/strong\u003e 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDistillation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Triple copper pot still + column still blend\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eABV:\u003c\/strong\u003e 59.2% (118.4 Proof)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eRelease:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2022 (series low proof)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrowse the full \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bourbon\"\u003ebourbon collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhy was 2022 the lowest-proof Batch Proof vintage?\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eIs lower proof a negative?\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhat is Batch Proof?\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why was 2022 the lowest-proof Batch Proof vintage?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Master Distiller Morris explained that 2022 had more first-floor warehouse barrels. Lower-floor barrels experience less aggressive temperature cycling and concentrate to lower natural proofs.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is lower proof a negative?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No — it reflects that year's barrel selection. Lower proof makes the batch slightly more approachable neat, while still delivering full Woodford character at 28 proof points above the standard.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is Batch Proof?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"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.\"}}]}\u003c\/script\u003e","brand":"Woodford Reserve","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42900648198215,"sku":"081128003067","price":279.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0687\/0640\/2375\/files\/woodford-reserve-masters-collection-118.4_665128a7-fda2-41fd-9782-9586f4bb390b.png?v=1782409904","url":"https:\/\/bourbonnest.com\/products\/woodford-reserve-masters-collection-batch-proof-118-4","provider":"Bourbon Nest","version":"1.0","type":"link"}