I’m lucky that I get to taste a lot of whiskies. Ok, maybe even more than a lot of whiskies. I taste more whiskey than just about anyone you know or have ever met. Its a nice side effect of being a writer and spirits educator I guess. That said, its pretty rare when I get super excited about a new whiskey on the market. After all, when you’ve experienced the breadth and depth of the world of whiskies, it takes something really special to really blow my mind. Well, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked did just that. I’ve never tasted a bourbon with such a long, interesting and downright exotic finish. Essentiall, Woodford Double Oaked goes into a regular charred bourbon barrel to start, and then spends time in a toasted American oak barrel, very similar to what wine would be aged in. The result is that the toasted barrel heightens the honeyed, vanilla and cream notes in this whiskey. Chocolate notes are readily apparent and the signature cinnamon flavor of Woodford is still there. This is a delicious bourbon, one of the few that I’ll gladly pay $50 a bottle for and this will always be in the liquor cabinet at home. Brown Forman have outdone themselves with Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, it is easily the best bourbon I’ve tasted in 2012 and perhaps in years. This is fantastic stuff, and you’d be well advised to pick up a bottle asap. If you are a bourbon fan, you simply must own this bourbon.
Damn, why did I write this post at 10:30 am and now I have to wait to this afternoon to taste the last of my Woodford Reserve Double Oaked? Its going to a long day waiting to taste it again. Distractions, distractions…