{"product_id":"woodford-reserve-masters-collection-historic-barrel-entry-bourbon","title":"Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Historic Barrel Entry #18 Bourbon","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWoodford Reserve Masters Collection Historic Barrel Entry #18 — the 2022 Masters Collection expression that explores Woodford's fifth flavor source — maturation — through the lens of barrel entry proof, distilling and entering bourbon into the barrel at 100 proof rather than the modern standard of up to 125 proof, replicating a pre-modern production practice that produces a fundamentally different whiskey character.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFederal law permits bourbon to enter the barrel at up to 125 proof. Modern distilleries typically barrel between 110 and 125 proof — higher entry proofs maximize yield from each barrel and can accelerate certain aspects of maturation. But before modern efficiency standards, many 19th-century distilleries entered at much lower proofs, sometimes 100 or below. At lower entry proof, the spirit begins maturation with more water present: the oak extraction proceeds differently, the congeners interact with the wood differently, and the resulting whiskey develops more grain character and a rounder, less concentration-driven profile than high-entry production achieves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe #18 designation refers to this being the 18th release in the Masters Collection series. It is the only Masters Collection expression to isolate barrel entry proof as its single variable — every other production step is identical to the standard Woodford Reserve, making it a precise comparison of what 100-proof entry vs. 110-125-proof entry actually produces in the glass.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eNose:\u003c\/strong\u003e More grain-forward than standard Woodford — toasted cereal, soft caramel, vanilla, and oak with the grain character preserved by the lower entry proof\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePalate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rounded and fuller in grain texture than standard production; caramel and vanilla with more prominent grain structure and less oak-driven concentration than high-entry-proof bourbon produces at comparable ages\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Medium-long with grain-forward warmth and gentle oak\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 (#18)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eBarrel Entry Proof:\u003c\/strong\u003e 100 (vs. modern standard of up to 125)\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\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eABV:\u003c\/strong\u003e 45.2% (90.4 Proof)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eRelease:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2022\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrowse the full \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/woodencork.com\/collections\/woodford-reserve\"\u003eWoodford Reserve collection at Wooden Cork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhat difference does 100-proof barrel entry make?\u003c\/strong\u003e Lower barrel entry proof means more water is present in the spirit at the start of maturation. The oak extraction rate changes, the spirit-wood interaction develops differently, and the resulting whiskey preserves more grain character while developing less of the concentrated caramel and vanilla that high-entry-proof production drives.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eIs this the only Masters Collection release about barrel entry proof?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — Historic Barrel Entry #18 is the only expression in the Masters Collection series that isolates barrel entry proof as its single variable, making it a unique technical comparison within the lineup.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the Masters Collection five-flavor-source concept?\u003c\/strong\u003e Woodford identifies five sources of flavor: water, grain, fermentation, distillation, and maturation. Each Masters Collection release changes exactly one of these five variables to demonstrate its specific impact on the final whiskey.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What difference does 100-proof barrel entry make?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Lower barrel entry means more water present at the start of maturation. Oak extraction proceeds differently, preserving more grain character while developing less concentrated caramel and vanilla than high-entry-proof production produces.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is this the only Masters Collection release about barrel entry proof?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes — Historic Barrel Entry #18 is the only expression in the Masters Collection that isolates barrel entry proof as its single variable.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the Masters Collection five-flavor-source concept?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Woodford identifies five sources of flavor: water, grain, fermentation, distillation, and maturation. Each Masters Collection release changes exactly one variable to demonstrate its specific impact on the final whiskey.\"}}]}\u003c\/script\u003e","brand":"Woodford Reserve","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42900725235783,"sku":"081128003227","price":260.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0687\/0640\/2375\/files\/Capture_b76d90ad-2d9c-42bb-bd86-febec4018123.jpg?v=1782409335","url":"https:\/\/bourbonnest.com\/products\/woodford-reserve-masters-collection-historic-barrel-entry-bourbon","provider":"Bourbon Nest","version":"1.0","type":"link"}