Woodford Reserve tells BourbonBlog.com that it will introduce its first permanent line extension with Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. In March 2012, this new Woodford Reserve Bourbon – which twice barreled in White Oak -will be released after two unique barrels have been used to craft every bottle of Double Oaked.

Double Oaked begins as the original Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select recipe. This the fully matured Bourbon is then  rebarreled at 110 proof in a second barrel is crafted uniquely for this product created at Woodford Reserve’s own cooperage. The second barrel is uniquely toasted and charred to create the rich flavor and color characteristics producing Double Oaked, bottled at  90.4 Proof (45.2% ABV).

Double Oaked will retail for around $49.99 a bottle.

“Maturation in a new, charred oak barrel provides Woodford Reserve with all of its natural color and a great deal of its award-winning flavor. This Double Oaked expression has been uniquely matured in two separate, custom crafted barrels,” Chris Morris, master distiller for Woodford Reserve.

“The second was deeply toasted before its light charring. The double barreling of mature Woodford Reserve in this unique barrel allows the spirit to extract an additional amount of soft, sweet oak character.”

The Two Barrels:

The first Woodford Reserve barrel is crafted from oak that has seasoned out of doors for nine months and this is completely toasted and charred on the inside – like no other whiskey barrel in the world. The second barrel has been toasted for more than twice as long as the first fill barrel and is then very lightly charred – again unique amongst all the world’s whiskey barrels.

The second barrel: The secret to the Double Oaked character is in the second barrel. A custom crafted barrel with a heavier toast allows flavors of honey, cream, vanilla to be magnified and a light char gives elegant sweet aromatic notes.

“The overwhelming response to our Master’s Collection Seasoned Oak Finish offering inspired us to create a twice-barreled bourbon that is available year-round,” Laura Petry, brand
manager for Woodford Reserve tells BourbonBlog.com. “The result of the double maturation is a smooth, full-bodied expression with a long, rich finish.”

We’ll soon bring you our review of the new Woodford Reserve Double Oaked here on BourbonBlog.com.

Photo of Woodford Reserve courtesy Sarah Resnick

Popularity: 6% [?]

Four Roses Bourbon tells BourbonBlog.com that two pillars of Kentucky heritage, Bourbon and Derby, will come together in Louisville on March 5, 2012 when a new exhibit: Urban Bourbon at the Kentucky Derby Museum presented by Four Roses opens to the public. The Urban Bourbon exhibit is a direct tie to the city of Louisville’s Urban Bourbon Trail passport program which encourages visitors to sample the culture of Bourbon at various establishments in the metro area.

Located at the historic Churchill Downs race track, the Kentucky Derby Museum will showcase the history and heritage of Louisville’s involvement in the bourbon industry as it grew along with the horse industry and the Kentucky Derby. With bourbon roots in the city dating back to the early 1800s, a large number of whiskey blending houses became established as Louisville developed into a major trade city along the river.

As distilleries popped up all over the commonwealth, Louisville grew as a major shipping port expanding the reach of bourbon bottlers on historic Main Street downtown. Later access to railroad lines, further aided in the distribution of Kentucky’s treasured spirit where bottling, advertising and the recognition of “Whiskey Row” grew.

“Four Roses is a quality brand with roots in Louisville’s bourbon history dating back to the 1880’s on Main Street. We’re thrilled to align their brand with this exhibit and appreciate their generous support of the Kentucky Derby Museum,” the museum’s Executive Director, Lynn Ashton tells us.

Urban Bourbon at the Kentucky Derby Museum presented by Four Roses will run on the second floor of the museum in the Matt Winn Gallery from March 5, 2012- December 31, 2012. Exhibit is included in general daily admission for the Kentucky Derby Museum.

“We are delighted to be partnering with the world renowned Kentucky Derby Museum on the Urban Bourbon exhibit,” Patrick Stewart, Four Roses Director of Marketing and Sales – North America tells BourbonBlog.com. “When you think of the Kentucky Derby you naturally think of superior horses vying for the infamous garland of roses and of course, premium Kentucky Bourbon. It’s just a great fit for both of us.”

The design for the exhibit will have an upscale, urban loft feel and is being created as a dimensional space that will not only provide information in a fun, upscale presentation but will also be available as event space for bourbon tastings.

Four Roses Distillery, LLC located near Lawrenceburg, KY is the presenting sponsor of the exhibit and will be showcased in a variety of ways within the context of the exhibit.

The Derby Café will offer select tastings of bourbon flights including a “Run of Roses” to guests daily during the week from Mon.-Fri. and on occasional weekends during peak season.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Kentucky Bourbon Distillers of Bardstown, Kentucky known for aging and producing Vintage, Rowan’s Creek, Noah’s Mill, Willet Family Estates and other fine whiskeys tells BourbonBlog.com that they plan to start distilling it either Saturday, January 21 or Monday the 23rd, 2012.

“Many of our distributors have asked over the last number of years, ‘When are y’all going to fire up the still?’ At long last the answer is ‘any day now.’ We aim within the next few days to fire up our 55-foot beer still,” Drew Kulsveen of Kentucky Bourbon Distillers tells us.

The grains are arriving today, the yeast is already on site and the barrels are ready to house the new-make spirit. Once the new-make spirit comes off the still, it will be brought down to barrel-strength, and, in the cistern room, that spirit will be filled into charred oak containers.

At Mrs. Martha Willett Kulsveen’s strong urging, Kentucky Bourbon Distillers are shooting for January 27th, Mr. Thompson Willett’s (founder and Martha’s father) birthday, as the date in which we will fill our very first batch of barrels.

One of their eight aging warehouses has been exhaustively and completely restored– with the remaining seven warehouses to be restored over the coming months and years. The first batch of new-fill barrels will be placed in this newly renovated warehouse – Warehouse A– where the maturation process will begin.

“It would be remiss of us to not mention Mr. Dave Singer and how instrumental Dave was in seeing our dreams come to fruition. Dave was a welder who did the lion’s share of welding work at our family’s distillery.

Unfortunately, Dave left us much too early when he passed away in December of 2010. We remember him fondly and this never could have happened with his contributions,” says Kulsveen.

Kentucky Bourbon Distillers says they looks forward to starting this new and exciting chapter and thank all those who have been supportive and dedicated to their brands.

They’ve been estoring the distillery for several years. For some time now, Kentucky Bourbon Distillers have built a greatly respected reputation on producing some of the best Bourbons in the world  by aging new make and partially aged bourbons from casks procured from other distilleries.

Not long ago, BourbonBlog.com took a tour during the renovation and did a tasting at Kentucky Bourbon Distillers with Drew Kulsveen in this video.

Popularity: 5% [?]