Review #148: Woodford Reserve Batch Proof 121.2 (2024)

COST: $145 for 700mL bottle

AGE: NAS

MASH BILL: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley

PROOF: 121.2

Woodford Reserve is well known for one proof: 90.4. Whether you’re getting Distiller’s Select Bourbon, Rye Whiskey, Double Oaked, or even other Master’s Collection bottles from Woodford Reserve, it’s going to be 90.4 proof. In 2018, Woodford Reserve launched Batch Proof. This is an annual release that offers Woodford Reserve bourbon in the classic 72/18/10 mash bill, batched and offered unadulterated at cask strength. Today, I’m reviewing the 2024 release which came in at 121.2 proof. 

While the WRBP isn’t typically a bottle I seek (to be fair, I’ve never seen a bottle locally), I had seen some good things about this particular release and decided if I got a lead on one I’d pick it up. Low and behold, when I least expected it, it was just sitting on the shelf at a random Total Wine in Minneapolis on day 3 of a 12 day trip! I didn’t plan on traveling around with this bottle, including on 3 different flights, but you do what you gotta do. So, with that, lets see if it was all worth it!

Reviewed neat in a Glencairn.

APPEARANCE: Rich brownish ruby color (1.7); thin fast legs at first, and then the remaining bourbon on the glass coalesces into a few fat, slow legs. Syrupy looking.

NOSE: Loads of sweetness! Maraschino cherry, caramel, buttercream frosting with a sprinkling of lemon zest are robust with my nose just at the rim of the glass. Dipping my nose a little deeper below the rim I get sweet oak, baking spices, most notably nutmeg and allspice, rich chocolate, and a little herbal note somewhere between mint and sage. There’s also a consistent white pepper note adding a little earthy, spice. There’s no proof heat and this is overall just a decadent smelling pour that begs me to drink it!

PALATE: Fantastic mouthfeel: thick, viscous, creamy, and just clings to the palate. Caramelized brown sugar, vanilla frosting, and sweet oak stand out right away. That wonderful cherry note from the nose has turned a bit darker and richer, almost like a bourbon cherry or perhaps a cherry cordial with the dark chocolate note that accompanies it. At the mid-palate a whole lot more rich, fruit notes enter carrying into the finish: a mixed blueberry and blackberry jam, stewed plums, and grilled maple syrup glazed peaches. There’s a nice cinnamon spice that hits me in the back of the throat and the tip of the tongue.

FINISH: The dark chocolate cherry cordial note from the palate carries over to the finish along with jammy goodness of stone fruits. The oak has shown through in a sweet oak note for the rest of the sip, but here it turns a bit more tannic and spicy. Cinnamon is ever present, and a hint of earthy, nutty toffee starts to enter a good 10-15 seconds after the swallow, and tannic oak and black tea bring this to a close. This is a medium length finish and fairly sweet at first but ending a bit tannic.

RATING: 9.4/10

VALUE: 8.0/10 (This is an attempt to take into account price, tasting rating, age, and proof. See my spreadsheet for more details.)

OVERALL: Cherry for days, velvety layers of oak and chocolate, warm stone fruits with mild spices…this is such a decadent pour! I really wish I picked up two bottles of this because I’ve been trying to drag out this bottle and savor it. I just got a lead on a bottle for $170 locally. While not as good of a deal as the $130 I paid for this bottle, I may just pull the trigger because this is really that good! This is a banger of a bottle! 

1 | Disgusting | ...I've not subjected myself to this level

2 | Poor | Balcones Lineage

3 | Bad | High West Double Rye, Jefferson's Ocean 28

4 | Sub-par | Weller's SR, Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select

5 | Good | Buffalo Trace, Sazerac Rye, Green River Wheated

6 | Very Good | Blanton's, Holladay Bourbons, Eagle Rare

7 | Great | Baker's 7yr SiB, BBCo Origin High Wheat, 1792 BiB

8 | Excellent | Most ECBP batches, JD SiB BiB, High West MWND Act 11

9 | Incredible | Woodford Batch Proof 121.2, BBCo DS #7, Four Roses OESQ

10 | Perfect | Found North Batch 08