Brian’s Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Review:
written on 31-March-2019
WOODFORD RESERVE DOUBLE OAKED REVIEW:
“Double Oaked” is Woodford Reserve Distillers Select finished in toasted and lightly charred barrels for an additional year beyond what is believed the original seven years it spent new, charred American oak barrels.
This is a solid and well blended bourbon. It presents almost excessively sweet, and the aromas do pass through to the palate, but slightly diminished. To my taste it is better than Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select, which is also quite good.
WOODFORD RESERVE DOUBLE OAKED VITAL STATS:
– Region: Kentucky, USA
– Company: Brown-Forman
– Distillery: Woodford Reserve Distillery / Brown-Forman Distillers
– Classification: Straight Whiskey
– Age: nas, believed to be about 7-8 years
– Mashbill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
– Barrel Char: #4 for the first aging; Toasted and lightly charred barrels for an additional year.
– Barrel entry proof: 125
– ABV: 45.2% (90.4 Proof)
– Price: $54.95 USD in Idaho
– No batch or bottle number identifiers
Learn more at Brown-Forman Brands.
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I drank this spirit neat, from a Glencairn glass.
NOSE:
Brown sugar, maple syrup, and molasses explode from the bottle when opened. When poured and brought to the nose, Woodford Reserve Double Oak is warm confections of brown sugared pastry, Christmas cake, butterscotch and maple sugar candy. Subsequent nosing brings forth sweet aromas of caramelized sugar, buttery caramel, more molasses, and nutty toffee. During my first tasting, this bourbon was simple and gentle but less so and less sweet during my second. There is a distinct and pleasant roasted walnut and piney aroma during the first, but the dram presents more woody and has a strong oakiness during the second.
PALATE:
During my first tasting, Woodford Reserve Double Oak was warming in the mouth but a strong alcohol bite presented during second. There are traces of sweet maraschino cherries and Christmas cake and the aromas of caramelized sugar, buttery maple syrup, dark molasses, and toffee pass through to the tongue but are less pronounced during subsequent drams. The bourbon’s piney woodiness and roasted walnuts give way to macadamia nuts and strong oak. Woodford Reserve Double Oak is at once complex and well blended.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
This bourbon is pleasant and full, rich and buttery, but above all its mouthfeel is oily. In the Glencairn, its dark colour is regally attractive. Its clinging droplets fall in long legs back into the brown sherry pool.
FINISH:
Woodford Reserve Double Oak’s finish is warm, sweet and medium-long. Its aromas and flavours are well blended. This is a fine bourbon.
MY RATING: 88/100
Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.
Click 88/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Woodford Reserve.
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