Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is a Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 45.2% ABV (90.4 proof). It starts as the distillery's standard Woodford Reserve bourbon, which is matured in heavily charred new oak. That bourbon is then moved into a second set of barrels for an additional nine months. These finishing barrels are toasted for twice as long as the first set but charred only lightly. The long toast and light char pull sweeter, softer wood sugars from the oak. The heavy char of a first maturation tends to bring deep caramelized and smoky tones instead. That is where the name comes from, and it accounts for the bottle's character. Expect the oak to be more prominent here than in a standard bourbon, but in a rounded, sweet form: toasted wood, vanilla, caramel and baking-spice notes are what a second toasted-barrel finish typically delivers. Bourbon's corn-forward sweetness and rye-driven spice should still sit underneath. The 45.2% strength is a little above the common 40% mark, so the whiskey holds its structure with ice or mixers without feeling thin. The bottle has been shorter and wider since the late-2016 redesign. For sipping, neat is the best way to taste what the second barrel added. A Glencairn glass concentrates the aromas of toast and vanilla, and the oak-driven nose is a large part of this bottle's appeal. If the alcohol feels forward, add a few drops of room-temperature water, which loosens the aromas and softens the heat without muting the oak. For a slower pour, use a rocks glass with one large cube. It chills the bourbon gradually and dilutes it less than several small pieces of ice would. In cocktails, the sweet wood character suits stirred drinks best. An Old Fashioned with a sugar cube, Angostura bitters and an orange peel needs little added sweetness, so keep the sugar light and let the barrel notes carry it. In a Manhattan, pair it with a sweet vermouth and a cherry. The rye spice will balance the vermouth, and the toasted oak adds depth. A Whiskey Sour with fresh lemon works too, though the oak is the first thing the citrus will hide. For a highball, use a tall glass, plenty of ice and a dry ginger ale or soda water, with a lemon twist to lift the vanilla.