Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is one of those rare bottles. Simultaneously unique and familiar, this whiskey is a must-try for any whiskey fan looking for a rich and rewarding experience.
The award-winning Woodford Reserve Distillery churns out some of the best whiskey on the market. From the heart of Kentucky, this Woodford County-based distillery carries a deep history, being a National Historic Landmark. Notably, while the distillery was under a different name, it was home to the sour mash wizard James C. Crow. He worked to improve and codify key bourbon-making processes in the mid-19th century. The Woodford Reserve brand emerged on the American whiskey scene in 1996. Since then, it has released its signature Woodford Reserve Bourbon, as well as its Straight Rye, Malt Whiskey, and Wheat Whiskey.
But Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is a whole other animal in terms of flavor and drinking experience.
What sets the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked apart from Woodford’s other whiskey is its maturation process. It’s similar to the Old Forester 1910 and Old Forester 1920 we have tried and reviewed before. The whiskey begins its life just like the Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon. But it is matured in heavily toasted and lightly charred barrels, and finished in virgin charred oak casks, giving it the “double oaked” name. This process makes Woodford Reserve Double Oaked stand out when it comes to flavor.
Building on the Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon, the Double Oaked offers a unique and interesting sipping experience that you will want to try. While tasting, make sure to notice the smooth sweetness on the nose, palate, and finish, that makes this whiskey easy to choose for a nightly pour. (Might we suggest pouring it into one of our Prestige Haus glasses?)
The experience of drinking Woodford Reserve Double Oaked begins with its unique and complex nose. At around 45 percent alcohol content, the smell is not overwhelmed by a harsh alcohol burn. Instead, you should expect deep and roasted flavors like char, milk chocolate, and coffee beans, as well as sweeter flavors like dark cherry and vanilla. Third or fourth sniffs tend to detect notes of warm spice like cinnamon and nutmeg, and all the flavors tend to culminate in a warm presence of baked goods, specifically underdone cookies and brownies.
This whiskey is thick and rich, coating your mouth with a smoky layer that builds upon the fragrance of baked goods. As the whiskey coats your tongue, you will taste sweet and caramelized banana, brown sugar, chocolate, and vanilla. As you aerate your mouth with subsequent sips, be prepared for the baked goods taste of the whiskey to transform into a nougaty caramel candy bar layered with a tame cinnamon undertone. There is little bitterness to this whiskey – one of the things that makes it so balanced – so flavors like cocoa will taste like chocolate, and contrast against an oaky flavor that unifies the entire palate.
You may not detect the oak flavor of this whiskey on the nose or heavily on the palate, but at its finish, the oak shines through. The smooth, light oak finish rounds out with milk chocolate, leaving your mouth feeling surprisingly uplifted. With its deep flavors, the finish carries through the most subtly, allowing the unsung elements of the nose and palate, like honeyed apple, to linger.
If you are looking for a light and sweet whiskey that stays consistently creamy while drinking, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is the whiskey for you. This is a perfect after-dinner whiskey. It’s ideal for pairing with fall desserts, as it will tastefully complement caramelized sugar flavors and unlock some of the deeper tones of any baked good.
We’d recommend you grab a bottle today. Would you recommend the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked? Comment below and let us know.