Day 3 of DB's Bourbon Trail 2024 Advent Calendar - Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

Cheers and welcome to our 5th Annual Advent Calendar!

This month, we’re embarking on a high-end bourbon journey, reviewing 25 bourbons from award-winning distilleries across the United States. From December 1st to December 25th, we’ll explore everything from small batches to single barrels, all packed with flavor. Join us in toasting to another incredible year as we share some of our favorite bottles with you!

Our reviews are done using a Glencairn glass and neat, but remember, it’s your bourbon! Enjoy it however you like—over ice, with water, or in a cocktail. The key is to enjoy it your way and not let others influence your experience.

Enough of me rambling. Now, let’s dive into what brought us here!

Day 3 of DB’s Bourbon Trail 2024 Advent Calendar

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked - Gibby's Bottle Shop Store Pick

Proof:

90.4 Proof (45.2%)

Distillery:

Woodford Reserve Distillery (Versailles, KY)

Price Point:

• At DB’s Bourbon Trail, we use BoozApp (not sponsored) to ensure fair pricing on our bourbon purchases. Nothing is worse than overpaying due to supply and demand games.

  • Average MSRP:

    • $54.80

  • Fair Price:

    • $77.34

  • Shelf Price:

    • $72.28

  • DB’s Bourbon Trail Instant Buy Price:

    • <$54.99

Review:

Tonight is the 1st of 10 pours that will be a single barrel/barrel select pick in our calendar. If you are unsure and don’t know what that means, no worries - I got you! A "single barrel store pick" refers to a bottle of bourbon that comes from a specific single barrel selected by a liquor store or retailer. Why is this important or special to note? By selecting a single barrel, it provides a unique flavor profile distinct from the standard brand offering. This is due to each barrel aging slightly differently and providing special nuances in each pour. The store chooses the barrel they like the best from a selection provided by the distillery which then results in a limited edition, exclusive product only available from that specific store/retailer.

First off, I want to give a shout out to Gibby’s for this incredible pick and what they bring to the bourbon community here in Charleston. The selection at the store is incredible and if you are ever in the area this is a must stop!

As for the bourbon, you probably have heard of Woodford Reserve before. Their name is well-known in the industry, featured in bars worldwide and recognized as the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby. As for the “Double Oaked”, this may be your first time seeing or trying this unique expression. Don’t overthink the name, because it means exactly that. The bourbon is aged a second time in a toasted and lightly charred new oak barrel, giving it a rich and complex flavor profile comparable to Woodford’s regular expression.

The extra aging allows the bourbon to have a much darker appearance in the glass and truly brings out a rich flavor profile from the new oak barrel.

Nose: 

On the nose, this offers an incredible mix of a sweet and oaky aroma. You will be able to pick up notes of toasted oak, black cherry, vanilla, and a hint of dark chocolate.

Palate:

The palate is where this bourbon stands well above the rest. As you can imagine from a “Double Oaked”expression, oak is the dominant flavor. With that being said, Woodford does a great job here timing wise and doesn’t allow the oak to completely override the other flavors. Completed by the oak there is a great sweetness with notes of caramel and vanilla.

Finish:

The finish is smooth and really brings all the flavors together with a little cinnamon spice and everything nice! The pour and finish is rich of flavor that lingers for the perfect amount of time.

Final Thoughts:

The additional aging expression with this bottle really enhances the sweetness and flavor without overwhelming the notes like other “finished” bourbons. Compared to the standard bottle, the extra aging really adds depth and a more robust flavor profile on this pour.

This is most definitely a bottle that I always have in the house, it with this one being a store pick, makes it just that much better!

Cheers y’all! 🥃

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