There are some tastings where you expect surprises.
And then there are tastings where you think you already know who probably wins—but you pour it blind anyway because bourbon has a way of humbling certainty.
This week’s lineup focused entirely on bourbons shaped by additional wood influence: double oak, triple oak, quad oak, cask finishing, and extra secondary barrel work. Nine pours. No labels. No prices. No reputations—at least not until the glasses were empty.
A few bottles rose higher than expected.
A couple landed lower than I thought they might.
And one familiar bottle finished exactly where I suspected it would if my palate stayed honest.
The Bottom Tier: Nothing Weak, Just Outpaced
Sample A turned out to be Rivertown Reserve, my own finished bourbon built from Buffalo Trace, rested in a small cask that had previously held sherry and then Benchmark Full Proof.
It opened with pleasant oak, caramel and stone fruit. Vanilla arrived on the palate, and the mouthfeel was respectable, but the finish faded faster than I expected and leaned vanilla-heavy at the end. It scored 78.88, which honestly surprised me because I expected it to finish higher.
Just behind it sat Buzzard’s Roost Double Oak at 78.23.
That may have been the biggest surprise of the tasting because this bottle was the reason I built the lineup in the first place. Heavy oak led the nose, followed by salted caramel, caramel-covered peanuts, vanilla and cinnamon. Pleasant throughout, but against this field, it simply lacked the depth to climb.
Jim Beam Outperformed Expectations
Jim Beam Double Oak came in at 82.68, which was better than I expected.
Before pouring, I probably would have predicted it finishing last. Instead, it delivered caramel, nutmeg, cinnamon, light chocolate and honey on the finish, proving itself far more competitive than expected.
Bondstone Quad Oak Stayed Strong
Bondstone Quad Oak landed at 83.98.
Rich chocolate and oak defined the nose, with oak pushing further forward on the palate. The viscosity was very good, though the oak developed a slight sour edge late in the finish that likely held it back.
Bondstone Double-Oaked Cask Strength Immediately Made Its Presence Known
The late addition was Bondstone Double-Oaked Cask Strength, and it immediately carved out a strong position at 86.47.
The color sat at light mahogany. Proof showed itself immediately on the nose, but without becoming overwhelming. Savory toasted oak, chocolate and light caramel followed behind it. On the palate, the proof became more assertive, bringing real heat, but there was enough flavor to carry it—chocolate, caramel, cinnamon and toasted oak all held together well.
The mouthfeel pushed just beyond creamy, and the finish lingered with bittersweet chocolate and caramel.
A serious pour, and one that clearly earned its place.
Old Forester Stayed Dependable
Old Forester 1910 scored 85.82, delivering exactly what that bottle reliably delivers—sweet oak, chocolate, baking spice, creamy mouthfeel and a finish that stays composed throughout.
Its bigger sibling, Old Forester 1910 Extra Extra, climbed much higher.
At 87.99, it brought dark chocolate, oak, nutmeg, silky texture and a tart, lengthy finish that immediately felt more serious.
Bondstone Triple Oak Nearly Took the Crown
Bondstone Triple Oak came very close at 87.78.
Caramel, chocolate, nutmeg, cherries and cinnamon all showed real depth, with a finish that remained rich and satisfying.
That means Bondstone placed three bottles in the field—and all three performed well, which says a lot.
And the Winner Stayed the Same
Then came Sample G.
Solid mahogany color. Sweet rich chocolate on the nose. Cinnamon joining chocolate and oak on the palate. Light creaminess in the mouthfeel. And a finish packed with brown sugar, cinnamon and chocolate that simply refused to quit.
That bottle scored 89.62.
And yes—it was Woodford Reserve Double Oaked.
Blind or not, that bottle continues to justify its reputation.
It remains one of the best finished bourbons on my shelf.
Final Ranking
- Woodford Reserve Double Oaked — 89.62
- Old Forester 1910 Extra Extra — 87.99
- Bondstone Triple Oak — 87.78
- Bondstone Double-Oaked Cask Strength — 86.47
- Old Forester 1910 — 85.82
- Bondstone Quad Oak — 83.98
- Jim Beam Double Oak — 82.68
- Rivertown Reserve — 78.88
- Buzzard’s Roost Double Oak — 78.23
Sometimes blind tasting overturns assumptions.
Sometimes it confirms them.
And sometimes it reminds you that one bottle still has to earn its reputation every single time you pour it. 🥃✨
Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.
