The Stats
- Distillery: Woodford Reserve Distillery
- Location: Versailles, Kentucky
- Type: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
- Proof: 90.4 (45.2% ALC/VOL)
- Age: NAS
- Mash Bill: 53% Rye / 33% Corn / 14% Malted Barley
- Finishing: Second New Oak Barrel, Heavily Toasted and Lightly Charred
- Secondary Maturation: Average 8 Months
- Release: Ongoing
- MSRP: $55
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon hit shelves in 2012. Fourteen years later, we're finally getting the rye version. And we've been waiting for it since at least 2022.
Double Oaked Bourbon has become one of Woodford's most recognizable whiskeys, so giving their rye the same treatment always seemed like a natural next step. But would that second barrel add something interesting, or overwhelm the character that makes rye different in the first place?
We've had plenty of time to build up expectations. Now we finally get to find out.
The Whiskey Behind the Bottle
Woodford's Double Oaked process takes fully matured whiskey, aged 5-7 years, and gives it additional time in a second new oak barrel that's heavily toasted and lightly charred.
Double Oaked Rye was originally envisioned by former Master Distiller Chris Morris and brought to market under current Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall. It's an idea that's been in the works for years.
The whiskey starts with Woodford's 53% rye, 33% corn and 14% malted barley mash bill. After roughly five to seven years of initial maturation, it spends an average of eight additional months in that second barrel before being bottled at 90.4 proof.
Introduced in October 2026, Double Oaked Rye joins Woodford's permanent lineup at a suggested retail price of $55. No limited release or allocated bottle to chase.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
Rich caramel, dark chocolate, and toasted nuts lead the way, with hints of molasses, citrus, and a little rye spice. It's a sweet, inviting nose with enough going on to keep things interesting.
Taste
Caramel and chocolate come first, followed by toasted oak, baking spice and mint. The combination reminded us of caramel-covered mint, which is probably the best way to describe what makes this whiskey stand out.
There's a little coffee and citrus underneath, but the profile stays focused. The flavors work really well together, even if the mouthfeel isn't particularly rich or viscous.
Finish
Caramel, toasted oak and rye spice linger with a touch of citrus. It's a pleasant, medium-length finish, though we'd love a little more weight and intensity.
At 90.4 proof, it's incredibly approachable, but another 5 or 10 proof points would make this even more interesting.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
7 / 10 - Good
We both landed at a 7. Woodford delivered on a release we've wanted for a long time.
The familiar Double Oaked sweetness is here, but the mint and rye spice give it a personality of its own. A little extra flavor. It's approachable without being boring, even if we'd prefer a little more proof and a richer mouthfeel.
Here's the interesting part. We actually think this might be better than Double Oaked Bourbon. Yep, we just wrote that.
We haven't tasted them blind against each other yet, so we're not making that official. But Woodford has given us a pretty good reason to revisit the original.
Buy or Skip:
Buy
At around $55, Double Oaked Rye offers the same kind of value that has made Double Oaked Bourbon such an easy recommendation.
If you enjoy the original, this is absolutely worth trying. And if you're curious about rye but haven't found one you like, this is a great place to start.
Experienced rye drinkers looking for big proof, a heavier mouthfeel or a more aggressive rye profile might want more.
But for an approachable, flavorful rye at a reasonable price, Woodford has delivered. We're glad they finally made it.
Where Does It Rank?
Every whiskey we review is scored using the same 10-point scale, making it easy to compare bottles across styles, distilleries, and price points. Explore our complete whiskey rankings to see how every bottle stacks up.
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