Woodford Reserve vs Double Oaked: Is older bourbon whiskey better? 

SC American, love the Woodford Double Oaked personally. I have had Blantons, and love it, but it’s too expensive. Larceny is another great Bourbon.

"It's a time and place situation" was your best comment. I agree that even someone who really enjoys the Double Oaked may not want it all the time. That would be me. But if I'm not looking for something as sweet and smooth as the Double Oaked then I'm reaching for something other than Woodford Reserve. For me, the Double Oak offers something special, even though that something special may not be what I want on any particular moment. I can't say the same for the straight Woodford Reserve.

I like that the Standard Woodford Reserve looks nice enough on a shelf that nobody would know how cheap it is. One thing that threw me a bit is it tasted strongly like licorice before I got used to it. Haven't noticed this with others. The only reason I can see for hating on it is its about the same price as wild turkey 101 which is much better imo. That said the lower proof is smoother and its way better than wild turkey standard.

Well I finally got around to doing a simultaneous 'head to head' along with you in this video, I must admit that the WR has a certain something to it, whether that's the vanilla on the nose, the sweetness on the palate or even the medium finish with the gentle woody heat I don't really know, it's a lovely pour and one that seems to get better as I go through the bottle (tbh I wasn't overly impressed with it when I first opened it) which has been open now for about 2 months. As for the WRDO, well it's very hard to believe that they both started life as the same thing ! I don't get the same vanilla on the nose in fact it's a bit more of those darker dried fruits, a hint of chocolate mixed with a tad of char, the taste is so rich and decadent (as you quite rightly stated) and the finish is a very pleasant oaky spice which is more drying than the WR (which is I suppose largely due to the double barrel process). For the money the WR is a great pour as it is in the sub £30 category and hits differently enough from the old favourites (WT101 & BT) to make it a viable purchase for when you want something different but then again it's only a few quid away from Eagle Rare which is an entirely different beast and one that I do feel trumps it. As for the WRDO, well at £45 (what I paid for mine) it does fall into the same price category as the WT Rare Breed (again I paid £45 for mine) but it holds it's own in much the same way that the standard WR does when compared to WT101 as they're both different enough from each other to be enjoyed without trying to compare the two too deeply. Okay the WTRB is a proof monster and has such a flavour package which makes it hard to beat but the WRDO with it's lower rye content cooks up enough different flavours to make it equally as enjoyable in the right situation/moment. The WR will definitely be replaced when I finish the bottle whereas the WRDO will be all down to getting it for the right price, I wouldn't pay anything over £45 for another bottle but I'd happily snap up a backup bottle for anywhere between £35 to £40 ! Thanks for taking the time to make the video, but I will get around to doing the Sazarac rye Vs the Bulliet rye (swig-a-long video, lol) next as I've managed to get both bottles now, cheers Tom, you're a star !

I dont care to drink bourbon neat, I could pour 2oz. of Widow Jane The Vaults 14 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey @ $259.99 a bottle into a glencairn and it wouldn't change my mind at all, I dont think It ever will so most video reviews dont pertain to how I drink my bourbon, but I do like some occasionally over a 2" ice cube that I let sit for a bit first but almost always in an old fashioned. Im a fan of the regular Woodford Reserve but the double oaked is incredible and (IMO) so prominent, I admit even though it's delicious it's a little pricey here in NY at $63.70 out the door so I probably will actually be using a 2 oz. measure when I pour from it to make it last a little longer because I will be replacing it once it's gone! Great review & 🥃Cheers!

woodford is one the few mass produced bourbons that are pot distilled, I think that is what makes the profile different from other bourbons, I am not that big of a fan the regular, buy I really like the double oak

I loved this review and share your opinions in their entirety; Unlike the fact that I have felt changes in viscosity between the classic and the Double Oaked; The latter for me has a more pronounced oily/buttery consistency. 🥃

Another double oaked bourbon that you should try out would be Old Forester 1910. Interestingly it’s kind of a cousin to the Woodford Double Oaked. They are both Brown-Forman and are assumed to be the same mashbill. The main difference is that the Woodford is more of a toasted second barrel, but OF 1910’s second barrel is charred almost to the point where it won’t hold the bourbon. I really enjoy the 1910, and hope it’s one you can find in the UK.

Hi Tom (and comments) - what would you recomend for a whiskey/bournan beginner like myself to get into whiskey/bourbon? Is the Woodford Reserve a good starting point?

Loving bourbon and also living in the Uk i struggle getting bourbons that have had the proof/abv lowered due to export as its a real shame because i find it definitely changes the characteristics when the proof has been lowered 😢

I'll have to side with the Double Oaked, in this showdown.

10 years is usually ths outer limit to age bourbon before the oak takes over. Anything older takes some intense cask management.