The Representative 4 Year Old Barrel Proof Bourbon Whiskey Spring 2023

The Representative 4 Year Old Barrel Proof Bourbon Whiskey — Spring 2023 is the flagship of independent bottler Proof & Wood Ventures: an MGP high-rye bourbon, aged a minimum of four years in new charred American oak, blended from about twenty barrels and bottled uncut at barrel proof — roughly 116.3 proof (58.15% ABV) for the Spring 2023 batch, in a 750mL bottle. This is the batch that won World's Best Bourbon (non-Kentucky) at the 2023 World Whiskies Awards, beating far older competition at just four years old. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

• Proof / ABV: barrel proof, ~116.3 proof (58.15% ABV) for Spring 2023 — 750mL (bottle read to confirm; other batches vary)
• Age: minimum 4 years ("two Congressional terms"), ~20-barrel small batch
• Mash bill: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley (high-rye MGP)
• Cask: new charred American oak; barrel entry 120 proof
• Origin: distilled in Indiana; bottled by Proof & Wood Ventures
• Awards: World's Best Bourbon (Best non-Kentucky Bourbon), World Whiskies Awards 2023; Whisky Advocate 91/100

The Curator's Bourbon

Proof & Wood doesn't distill — it hunts. Founder Dave Schmier built the company in 2015 to track down standout sourced barrels, and The Representative is the flagship of that hunt: a high-rye MGP bourbon given two full "Congressional terms" in new oak and bottled without dilution or chill filtration. The Spring 2023 batch is the one that stunned the judges — World's Best Bourbon at the World Whiskies Awards, a four-year-old small batch out-scoring whiskies three times its age. Compare more bourbon whiskey or follow the independent bottler trail through Proof & Wood Ventures.

Tasting Notes

World Whiskies Awards judges found dark fruit, rich oak, toffee, and light spice on the nose; a soft palate of lightly roasted nuts, herbal notes, brown sugar, cherries, and pepper; and a medium-to-long softening finish. Whisky Advocate (91) went bigger: "chocolate chip cookie, vanilla bean scone, confectioners' sugar, and Nutella... lemon meringue, vanilla cake, blackberry tart, bitter chocolate, and pecans," with a long syrupy peppery-spice finish.

How to Enjoy

At barrel proof, neat in a Glencairn with water on the side — add a few drops at a time to find the sweetness under the heat. This is a contemplative pour, not a mixer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What proof is the Spring 2023 batch?
Retailers listing this exact batch report about 116.3 proof (58.15% ABV) — proof varies by batch, so the bottle label is the final word.

Is The Representative a Kentucky bourbon?
No — it's distilled in Indiana by MGP and bottled by Proof & Wood Ventures; it won its World's Best title in the non-Kentucky category.

Who is Proof & Wood?
An independent bottler founded by Dave Schmier in 2015 that sources and blends standout barrels rather than distilling its own.

A four-year-old that beat the world — The Representative Spring 2023 is waiting at Del Mesa Liquor; order online in San Diego, CA.