Vintage Bourbon 23 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 94 Proof

23 years. 94 proof. Vintage Bourbon — a Kentucky straight bourbon aged to extraordinary maturity and presented at a proof that allows the full complexity of 23 years of barrel aging to express without the intensity of cask strength.

At 23 years, this bourbon occupies the same ultra-aged tier as A.H. Hirsch Reserve, the Orphan Barrel deep-aged expressions, and the rarest Heaven Hill and Heaven Hill-adjacent aged releases. The difference between a 23-year bourbon and a 12 or 15-year expression is not incremental — it is categorical: the grain character has been entirely absorbed into the oak, dried fruit is deeply concentrated, and the leather, tobacco, and warm caramel notes that only this duration of Kentucky barrel cycling produces are fully expressed.

The 94 proof presentation is a deliberate choice that prioritizes complexity over intensity — at this maturity level, the whiskey has enough inherent depth that dilution to 94 proof allows the full aromatic and flavor complexity to open rather than being masked by cask-strength alcohol.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Deep caramel, dried fruit, aged leather, tobacco, and warm spice at 23-year depth.
• Palate: Silky and complex — the full arc of 23-year Kentucky maturation in a refined, approachable proof presentation.
• Finish: Extraordinarily long — the 23-year character through a deeply satisfying multi-stage close.

Specs

• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Age: 23 years
• Proof: 94 (47% ABV)
• Size: 750ml

Browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why present a 23-year bourbon at 94 proof rather than cask strength? At 23 years, the complexity is deep enough that 94 proof allows the full aromatic and flavor profile to express without cask-strength alcohol masking the subtler notes. Many of the most celebrated ultra-aged bourbons (Parker's Heritage 27yr, Michter's 20yr) are presented at accessible proof points for exactly this reason.
• Is Vintage Bourbon 23 Year still available? Yes — available now.