Artfully Bourbon / October 30, 2026Woodford Reserve is expanding its popular Double Oaked lineup with a new rye whiskey, and the combination of flavor potential, price, and nationwide availability has our attention.
Photo Credit: Woodford ReserveWe're big fans of what a second oak barrel can bring to whiskey, especially when rye is involved. So when Woodford Reserve announced it was bringing its Double Oaked treatment to rye whiskey, we were immediately interested.
Even better? It's $54.99 and joining the permanent lineup.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Rye takes fully matured Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey and transfers it into a second, custom-crafted oak barrel for up to 12 months. That barrel is heavily toasted and lightly charred, designed to draw additional flavor from the wood.
It follows the same general approach as Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon, but this time with rye's spicier character in the mix.
"Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Rye is where Rye meets the richness of Double Oaked," said Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall. "We are bringing that same meticulous attention to barrel finishing that defined our bourbon over to the rye category, creating an unexpected, complex, and incredibly flavorful whiskey."
According to Woodford Reserve, the new expression delivers flavors of roasted espresso, caramel, lemon custard, and candied pecan.
That's a pretty interesting combination, especially for a rye whiskey. The question is how much of that familiar rye character survives the additional oak influence.
Release Details
- Distillery: Woodford Reserve
- Location: Versailles, Kentucky
- Type: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey finished in a second new oak barrel
- Proof: 90.4 (45.2% ABV)
- Finishing: Up to 12 months in heavily toasted, lightly charred new oak
- Size: 750 mL
- Release: Ongoing
- Availability: Nationwide
- Price: $54.99 MSRP
Photo Credit: Woodford ReserveThe AB take
A double-oaked rye was already going to get our attention. Making it a permanent release at $55 makes it even more interesting.
We're expecting a richer, sweeter rye with plenty of toasted oak character, and the flavor possibilities sound fantastic. Of course, we haven't tasted it yet, so we'll have to see whether the whiskey delivers on that promise.
We also appreciate that Woodford isn't asking consumers to spend $100 or more to experience something different. And because this is a permanent release, there's no limited-edition scramble or fear of missing out.
We'd love to see more distilleries take this approach.
We're looking forward to getting a bottle in front of us and seeing how that second barrel works with the rye. If it delivers the depth and flavor we're hoping for, this could become a very interesting addition to the everyday shelf.
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