GSN Review: Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked & Sweet Mash Reserve
Contributed by on Sep 02, 2015
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Woodford Reserve continues their aggressive program of new releases with two new bourbons debuting this summer. The Double Double Oaked is just what the name implies, starting with their Double Oaked version, and finished in a heavily toasted new oak. So, in a sense this is triple oaked. The Sweet Mash Reserve utilizes a different fermentation process instead of the usual sour mash process.
GSN has previously reviewed Woodford Reserve’s Sonoma-Cutrer Finish, and Kentucky Straight Rye.
Double Double Oaked (90.4 proof)
Visual: Dark copper.
Nose: Intense biting wood grain. Tons of high notes of baking spices.
Taste: Round, lots of char but not any smoke. Reminiscent of clove, cinnamon and dark brown bread.
Finish: Long and spicy, with just enough sweetness to keep it from being like a rye.
Overall: Quite intense and works much better with a splash of water to bring it all into focus. Surprisingly smooth and not at all overdone with wood.
GSN Rating: B+
Sweet Mash Reserve (90.4 proof)
Visual: Darkening gold.
Nose: Barn wood and straw. New leather. Catawba Grape.
Taste: Yes, this is sweet. But, it works. Kind of like a fruity bourbon. It’s as if they upped the sugar content. Very interesting.
Finish: Long and lots more of that sweetness. Almost like alcoholic maple candy. I’m reminded of Quebec’s Sortilège liqueur.
Overall: Another interesting expression that will work well with mixed drinks, or poured over a single large cube of ice.
GSN Rating: A-
For more information go to: Woodford Reserve
Filed under: Spirits & Liqueurs