Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Rye Whiskey 750 ml

DESCRIPTION
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Rye is a Kentucky straight rye finished a second time in a fresh oak barrel — the same double-barrel move that made the distillery's Double Oaked bourbon a staple, now aimed at rye. That second barrel is heavily toasted and lightly charred: the toast pulls out dark caramel and sweet oak, while the char keeps some backbone so the rye's pepper and herb don't disappear. What you get is rye's spice wrapped in roasted nuts, coffee, dark fruit, and chocolate. Worth knowing: it sits at 90.4 proof, the same as standard Woodford Rye — the extra barrel does the work here, not extra strength. Master distiller Elizabeth McCall selected it as a limited Barrel Finish Select release. Pour it neat or over one big cube; it's rich enough to close out a meal.

TASTING NOTES
Color: Deep sienna-amber.
Nose: Seasoned leather and cedar, dark fruit, and a nutty, dark-chocolate depth.
Palate: Rye spice up front, then roasted coffee and nuts, dark fruit, caramel, and chocolate.
Finish: Long, dark caramel and molasses over dried fruit and toasted oak.

HOW TO DRINK
Neat is where the second barrel shows — the caramel and coffee need room. A single large cube opens the dark fruit, and at 90.4 proof it takes a little water gracefully. It's rich and dessert-like, so it drinks better after dinner than before; if you mix it, a stirred, spirit-forward drink like a Manhattan suits it better than anything sweet.

Bourbon90.4 proof