Last Updated on: 8th April 2024, 12:56 pm
J Highland
J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as a spirits distiller.
This comparison provides an objective look at Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, two distinguished offerings from the Woodford Reserve distillery, highlighting their unique characteristics and profiles to assist enthusiasts in selecting the bourbon that best suits their palate.
Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.
Written by: J Highland
Comparison Summary:
- Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon is known for its well-rounded, versatile character with a balance of sweetness, spice, and a smooth finish, offered at an approximate price of $40.
- It serves as a benchmark for quality bourbon, suitable for both neat sipping and cocktail mixing.
- Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, priced around $60, takes the experience further with its deeper flavors of vanilla, butterscotch, and charred oak, achieved through an additional aging process in specially toasted barrels; mentions Bourbon expert Neil Coleman.
- This variant caters to those seeking a bourbon with more complexity and a richer profile, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.
Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon
- Nose: Mint, honey, vanilla, citrus.
- Palate: Sweet oak, cinnamon, mint, ripe fruit.
- Finish: Warm, with a caramel aftertaste.
- Alcohol Content: 90 proof (45% ABV).
- Recommended Enjoyment: Best enjoyed on the rocks or in cocktails.
- Comparative Spirit: Similar in profile to Buffalo Trace.
- Facts: Crafted with a mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% barley. Aged for seven years using heat cycling for optimal maturation. Has received gold and double gold awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Related: Woodford Reserve Review
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
- Nose: Oak, butterscotch, vanilla, brown sugar.
- Palate: Vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, aged leather.
- Finish: Long, with notes of vanilla, butterscotch, and espresso.
- Alcohol Content: 90 proof (45% ABV).
- Recommended Enjoyment: Ideal on the rocks or as the base of a rich cocktail.
- Comparative Spirit: Recalls the depth of Old Forester 1910.
- Facts: Undergoes an additional nine months of aging in twice-toasted barrels, resulting in a richer, more complex flavor profile. Awarded Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2013.
Conclusion:
Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked each offer distinct bourbon experiences.
The Straight Bourbon is a classic choice that delivers a broad appeal with its balanced and smooth character, making it a versatile option for various occasions.
The Double Oaked, with its additional aging in specially toasted barrels, provides a deeper, more enriched flavor experience, appealing to those who appreciate a more pronounced profile with layers of vanilla, caramel, and oak.
The choice between the two will depend on individual preference for complexity, depth of flavor, and price point, with Double Oaked offering a luxurious step up for those willing to invest in a richer bourbon experience.