Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Batch Proof 128.3

Woodford Reserve Masters Collection Batch Proof 128.3 — the highest-proof release in the Batch Proof series to date: Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon bottled at 128.3 proof without dilution, the natural collective proof of the barrels selected for this annual release and the most intense expression of the series.

Every annual Batch Proof release uses the same production process as standard Woodford Reserve — the same mash bill, the same triple copper pot still and column still blend, the same heat-cycled stone warehouse maturation. The proof is the only variable, determined entirely by which barrels are selected. 128.3 proof is the highest the series has reached — the product of a barrel selection weighted heavily toward upper-floor casks in Woodford's heat-cycled warehouses, where aggressive seasonal temperature swings drive more evaporation, concentrate the spirit faster, and push the natural proof higher than lower-floor aging environments produce.

At 128.3 proof — 38 points above the standard 90.4 — the Batch Proof 128.3 presents the maximum intensity of what the Woodford Reserve bourbon program can produce without any special process changes.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Bold toasted oak, dark caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, dark cherry, and roasted nuts — the Woodford Reserve profile at peak concentration from upper-floor barrel selection
• Palate: Full and powerful — dark cherry, baking spice, chocolate, caramel, charred oak, and tobacco; the triple pot still character rounds the intensity, keeping the high proof manageable
• Finish: Long and assertive with spice, leather, and deep oak tannin persisting through a satisfying close

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: 64.15% (128.3 Proof)
• Release: Series high proof
• Size: 700ml

Browse the full Woodford Reserve collection at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is 128.3 proof the highest Batch Proof release? Yes — 128.3 is the highest proof recorded in the annual Batch Proof series since it launched in 2018. The series typically ranges from the low 118s to the high 120s.
• What drives the proof higher in some years? Upper-floor barrels in Woodford's heat-cycled warehouses experience more aggressive temperature swings, more evaporation, and higher natural proof concentration. A batch weighted toward upper-floor barrels will produce a higher collective proof than one drawing more from lower floors.
• Does higher proof mean better? Not necessarily — but it does mean different. Higher proof delivers more intensity, more oak impact, and more demand for a drop of water to open the aromatics. The 128.3 is the most intense Batch Proof vintage for those who want maximum undiluted Woodford character.