Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review
This is probably the most anticipated of Woodford Reserve’s premium yearly releases. That might be up for debate because Woodford has other allocated bottles that are highly sought after but this is the bottle with the most excitement around it in my opinion.
Growing up I thought Woodford Reserve was the bourbon rich people drank. Woodford has built a brand that it is a premium bourbon for a premium price. Brown-Forman takes regular Woodford a step further by taking that bourbon and further aging it in a different new oak toasted barrel. Hence Double Oaked. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is a fairly easy to find expression that is also part of their single barrel program and is normally an awesome pour. This expression I am reviewing takes the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, places that bourbon into yet another different heavily toasted new oak barrel to finish for an extra year! That’s how we get to Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked.
Woodford Reserve uses a 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley mashbill, still considered a higher rye bourbon. This is the standard Brown-Forman mashbill that is also used at Old Forester.
These run around $50 for a 375 mL bottle and are normally released around January or February. I tasted out of a glencairn and let it rest for ~10 minutes.
Color – A very deep dark brown sherry. One of the darkest bourbons I’ve tasted.
Aroma – Toasted marshmallow notes hit first, followed by heavy oak and dark fruit sweetness like a plum. No alcohol at all. It’s an amazing nose especially for a bourbon at such a low proof.
Taste – Tons of toasted oak, sweet toasted marshmallows again, lightly browned biscuit. This has a great viscosity and mouthfeel. For a low proof bourbon the flavors are concentrated and intense.
Finish – Moderately intense, slow forming finish and the oak notes linger just a bit on the palate.
Rating – 8.5/10
Thoughts – Woodford’s Double Double Oaked is an easy sipper and very pleasing. The nose and palate are great followed by a medium finish. Again amazed at the concentration of flavors in this lower proofed bourbon. If I see this I would buy it again. $50 is pricey for a 375 mL but it is something special that you will not see very often. If you cannot find this a good substitute would be Woodford Reserve Double Oaked or Old Forester 1910.
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect
Debonair Gentlemen 
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