The Story
Woodford Reserve Bourbon & Double Oaked Bundle — both flagship expressions from the Woodford Reserve core lineup together: the standard Distiller's Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon and the Double Oaked, presenting the most direct side-by-side comparison of what Woodford's secondary toasted barrel finishing actually does to the base spirit.
Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select is the foundation — 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley, triple copper pot still distillation, 90.4 proof. It delivers the distillery's signature fruit, floral, and spice character in an approachable and consistent profile. Double Oaked takes that same spirit and finishes it in a second barrel: deeply toasted before a light charring, which extracts different wood compounds than a standard char produces. The result amplifies the sweetness, adds chocolate and dark caramel layers, and rounds out the rye spice that defines the standard expression.
Tasting them together makes the finishing barrel's contribution immediately legible — the same distillery, same mash bill, same process, with only one variable changed. It is one of the cleaner educational comparisons available in the premium bourbon market.
Bundle Contents
- Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Distiller's Select) — 72/18/10 mash bill, 90.4 proof, triple copper pot still + column still blend
- Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon — same base, finished in a second deeply toasted barrel, 90.4 proof
Tasting Notes: Distiller's Select
- Nose: Dried fruit, caramel, vanilla, and gentle spice
- Palate: Caramel, baking spice, chocolate, and toasted oak; balanced and approachable
- Finish: Medium with warm spice and caramel
Tasting Notes: Double Oaked
- Nose: Rich dark fruit, caramel, honey, chocolate, marzipan, and toasted oak; noticeably sweeter and deeper than Distiller's Select
- Palate: Vanilla, dark caramel, hazelnut, apple, and baking spice; fuller and rounder than the standard expression
- Finish: Long and creamy with honeyed apple
Specs
- Distillery: Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, Kentucky
- ABV (both): 45.2% (90.4 Proof)
Browse the full Woodford Reserve collection at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the actual difference between these two bourbons? One barrel vs. two. Distiller's Select matures in a single new charred oak barrel. Double Oaked takes that finished bourbon and finishes it in a second barrel — deeply toasted before a light charring — which extracts different wood sugars and softens the rye spice while adding chocolate, caramel, and honey character.
- Which should I drink first? Distiller's Select first. It establishes the baseline Woodford flavor profile, making the Double Oaked's second-barrel contribution immediately apparent when you move to it.
- Is this a good gift? Yes — it works for bourbon newcomers who get an introduction to a benchmark distillery, and for enthusiasts who appreciate the comparison format.
Description
Woodford Reserve Bourbon & Double Oaked Bundle — both flagship expressions from the Woodford Reserve core lineup together: the standard Distiller's Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon and the Double Oaked, presenting the most direct side-by-side comparison of what Woodford's secondary toasted barrel finishing actually does to the base spirit.
Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select is the foundation — 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley, triple copper pot still distillation, 90.4 proof. It delivers the distillery's signature fruit, floral, and spice character in an approachable and consistent profile. Double Oaked takes that same spirit and finishes it in a second barrel: deeply toasted before a light charring, which extracts different wood compounds than a standard char produces. The result amplifies the sweetness, adds chocolate and dark caramel layers, and rounds out the rye spice that defines the standard expression.
Tasting them together makes the finishing barrel's contribution immediately legible — the same distillery, same mash bill, same process, with only one variable changed. It is one of the cleaner educational comparisons available in the premium bourbon market.
Bundle Contents
- Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Distiller's Select) — 72/18/10 mash bill, 90.4 proof, triple copper pot still + column still blend
- Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon — same base, finished in a second deeply toasted barrel, 90.4 proof
Tasting Notes: Distiller's Select
- Nose: Dried fruit, caramel, vanilla, and gentle spice
- Palate: Caramel, baking spice, chocolate, and toasted oak; balanced and approachable
- Finish: Medium with warm spice and caramel
Tasting Notes: Double Oaked
- Nose: Rich dark fruit, caramel, honey, chocolate, marzipan, and toasted oak; noticeably sweeter and deeper than Distiller's Select
- Palate: Vanilla, dark caramel, hazelnut, apple, and baking spice; fuller and rounder than the standard expression
- Finish: Long and creamy with honeyed apple
Specs
- Distillery: Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, Kentucky
- ABV (both): 45.2% (90.4 Proof)
Browse the full Woodford Reserve collection at Wooden Cork.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the actual difference between these two bourbons? One barrel vs. two. Distiller's Select matures in a single new charred oak barrel. Double Oaked takes that finished bourbon and finishes it in a second barrel — deeply toasted before a light charring — which extracts different wood sugars and softens the rye spice while adding chocolate, caramel, and honey character.
- Which should I drink first? Distiller's Select first. It establishes the baseline Woodford flavor profile, making the Double Oaked's second-barrel contribution immediately apparent when you move to it.
- Is this a good gift? Yes — it works for bourbon newcomers who get an introduction to a benchmark distillery, and for enthusiasts who appreciate the comparison format.
