First Impressions
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked — twice-barreled bourbon from Kentucky's oldest distilling site. Elijah Pepper began distilling at Glenn's Creek, Versailles in 1812. French wine merchant Leopold Labrot and Kentucky businessman James Graham purchased the distillery in 1878. Brown-Forman renamed it Woodford Reserve in 2005. It's a National Historic Landmark.
The Double Oak Process
Fully matured Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select is re-barreled into a second new American oak barrel that has been deeply toasted then lightly charred — the inverse treatment of the first barrel. It spends an additional 6-12 months in this second barrel. Mashbill: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley. First released in 2012.
Tasting
Dark fruit and marzipan nose with the second barrel's deep toast immediately apparent. Full-bodied palate of chocolate, cherries, toasted marshmallow, and hazelnut. The finish delivers dark caramel and baking spices with proper length. The deeply toasted second barrel adds richness without cloying sweetness.
The Verdict
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked earns an 8 — the twice-barreled process genuinely adds dimension, not just oak. The inverse toast/char approach on the second barrel is clever and the result is a crowd-pleasing bourbon with proper depth. At £45, outstanding value for a premium expression.
