As someone who worked in retail for many years, I learned that words only carry so much weight. When someone is looking for a bottle for themselves, it is ultimately the taste that determines whether they believe your recommendation.
Sampling is incredibly important in a specialist shop. It gives customers the chance to discover what they genuinely enjoy rather than relying entirely on categories or tasting notes. Someone might love sherry cask whiskies, for example, but there will still be certain bottles that simply do not hit the spot.
When it came to Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, the expression on people’s faces as soon as it touched their taste buds was always something to behold.
What Is Woodford Reserve Double Oaked?
Quite simply, Woodford Reserve takes its core bourbon and matures it for a second time in a new American oak barrel that has been deeply toasted for more than 40 minutes and lightly charred for only five seconds.
This additional toasting and light charring release more sugars and flavors from the wood, creating a sumptuous, rich, and characterful whiskey that does not face much direct competition on the market. In my opinion, of course.
When you compare the core Woodford Reserve bourbon and Double Oaked side by side, the differences are immediately apparent, even from the aroma alone.
On the palate, you can still tell that it is Woodford Reserve. The 18% rye in the mash bill shines through, cutting across the sweetness like a hot knife through butter. As the initial alcohol fades, a wave of potent sweetness returns and lingers, creating a remarkably delicious finish.
A Dessert-Like Nose
Where do I even start? It smells like all the delicious comfort foods that occupy a permanent place in our minds.
There is butterscotch, maple syrup, sticky pecans, vanilla cream, hot caramel sauce, milk chocolate, tingling rye spice, nutmeg, Vietnamese coffee, and fried pineapple, alongside almost every other sweet and indulgent flavor you can imagine.
It is an indulgent Kentucky dream wrapped up in a bottle for your tasting pleasure.
A Rich, Spiced Palate
The sweetness washes over your taste buds with initial notes of butterscotch, caramel, nutmeg, baked cinnamon, and vanilla. Then the rye spices and oak begin battling to see which can dominate that sweetness.
The rye brings a pleasant earthy spice that reminds me of mint and sweetened licorice. The wood then comes through with a drying quality, layered with caramel and a wonderful note of sweet rolling tobacco. It reminds me of standing outside with my dad while we were walking the dog together.
The sweetness returns in a huge backdraft, although it is slightly drier this time. Pecans, maple syrup, and gentle peppery spices cover the back of the tongue. As these fade, they reveal another layer of butterscotch and warm caramel sauce.
It is a massive journey through everything bourbon can do, only in a supercharged form.
A Long, Sweet Finish
The finish is sweet, lingering, long, and moreish. This is a bourbon that delivers on every level, particularly given its relatively affordable price in markets around the world.
It reminds me of clove-studded oranges, combining bright citrus with earthy but sweet baking spices and more of that freshly bubbling caramel sauce. The pineapple makes a brief reappearance before being washed away by vanilla and nutmeg.
Price and How It Compares
In the UK, a bottle will cost around £55. In the United States, the price depends on the state and retailer, but it generally varies between $50 and $70.
For the level of decadence it offers while retaining that classic Woodford Reserve character, I think it is an unmatched product.
Bourbons such as Elijah Craig Small Batch, Eagle Rare 10 Year Old, Maker’s Mark 46, Old Forester 100 Proof, and FEW Bourbon will take you into a similarly rich and decadent landscape. However, their flavors do not linger quite as effectively as those of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked.
Yes, it is a little more expensive than some of those bottles, regardless of where you shop. However, I honestly believe it does enough to justify that additional expense.
Is Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Worth It?
Absolutely. You may already have gathered that I am rather fond of this bourbon, but it really is a delight for anyone with a sweet tooth.
I think the additional cost is perfectly balanced by the extra flavors that the second barrel brings. More importantly, it remains recognizably a Woodford Reserve product. For me, that is a key part of the entire assessment.
You can finish many different whiskey styles in sherry, port, or other casks, only for the original distillery character to become difficult to identify. That is not the case here. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked retains its charm and balance while wholeheartedly embracing your sugar cravings and giving them exactly what they want.
Final Thoughts
I love drinking Woodford Reserve Double Oaked neat. I love watching people’s faces when they smell and taste it for the first time. I also love using it to make Old Fashioneds.
It is a genuine step-up bottle that can still do everything its little brother does. It simply knows that it is bigger, richer, sweeter, and a little spicier.
Despite all of that additional intensity, it remains immediately recognizable as Woodford Reserve and, in my opinion, one of the best-tasting bourbons produced by one of the finest distilleries in the business.
Read the full article at Why Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Keeps Outselling Every Bourbon I Recommend Beside It
