Good afternoon, my fellow Whisky Mates. The last few weeks we’ve found ourselves making reference to the Woodford Double Oaked on more than one occasion. And on each occasion, we also found ourselves salivating in anticipation, longing to taste that heavenly liquid but once more. So we figured, hell, it’s probably time to just review the whisky.
Per our resident whisky whiz, William, the Doubled Oaked moves him as follows:
The liquid is a striking hue of mahogany, working towards burgundy. The nose on this whiskey is incredible, reminding me of rum raisin ice cream as well as molasses. It’s hard to believe this juice began its journey as Woodford Reserve. No offense to this classic, but the DO is in another league altogether. The palate is oh so inviting; I am Ulysses and the DO is a Siren, tormenting me (in the best way) with every taste. It is thick and full of baking spices, especially clove. Cherry and soft oak follow closely behind. There is a wonderful burnt sugar note, reminiscent of the skin of an overcooked campfire marshmallow. I’m at once brought back to my childhood, roasting s’mores with my father – times were simpler then, and the DO fills me with a comfortable nostalgia that will last the rest of the evening. The finish is slightly tannic, but wholly pleasant. Bitter chocolate is the final reminder that this whiskey is one of the better kept secrets of value bourbon.
Well, I don’t know about you folks but I’m getting a little choked up. Maybe it’s the holidays, maybe it’s Will’s evocative prose…or maybe, just maybe, there is something extra special about the Double Oaked that transcends flavor notes and statistics. Definitely have to try it to understand, so we’d suggest doing that. For ~$55, it’s hard to not have this whiskey on your bar.
Close contemporaries are old faithfuls Knob Creek 9 and Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel. And if you can get your hands on it, a Bardstown Fusion Series 6 (btw, fantastic whiskey, all of it).
For more whisky stats and top-notch flavor matching, check out whiskymates.com.
