By Deborah Jackson, editor National Liquor News
Kentucky whiskey brand, Woodford Reserve has announced its latest expression in Australia, the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, which was released by owner Brown-Forman last week.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, which originally launched in the US in 2012, has an ABV of 43.2 per cent for the Australian market and retails for $75. It is available now through selected on-premise accounts and Dan Murphy’s stores, and will roll out through all major retailers in early 2016.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is matured in two handcrafted barrels, created at Woodford Reserve's own cooperage, which are toasted and charred to create the ample flavour and colour characteristics.
The first barrel is crafted from oak that has seasoned outdoors for nine months and is completely toasted and charred on the inside, while the second barrel has been toasted for more than twice as long and is charred lightly. A custom crafted barrel with a heftier toast lets flavours of honey, cream and vanilla be exaggerated and a light char gives refined sweet aromatic notes.
Woodford Reserve master distiller Chris Morris said: “The double barrelling of mature Woodford Reserve in the second barrel allows the spirit to extract an additional amount of soft, sweet oak character.”
Tim Ryder, brand manager, North American Whiskeys at Brown-Forman told TheShout: “Woodford Reserve isn't manufactured, it's crafted. It's this process that sets us apart, including the way that we are able to bring this through, via our brand stories, to our consumers.
“We at Brown-Forman are incredibly proud of our American Whiskey heritage and looking forward to sharing Woodford Reserve and now Old Forester with our Australian consumers.”