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Woodford Reserve Double Oaked vs Ancient Age
On paper Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and Ancient Age are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$50 – $62 vs. ~$14 – $18) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve Double Oaked | Ancient Age |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) +10 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $62 | ~$14 – $18 ~$40 less |
- Ancient Age does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ancient Age
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Ancient Age
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/3 oak: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 9 out of 10, Ancient Age 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/5 sweetness: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 8 out of 10, Ancient Age 5 out of 10
heat 4/2 heat: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 4 out of 10, Ancient Age 2 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10, Ancient Age 4 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10, Ancient Age 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 3 out of 10, Ancient Age 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Woodford Reserve Double Oaked: A second barrel, deeply toasted, and the result is unashamedly dessert-like. Maple and caramelised sugar with heavy wood — polarising if you want restraint, excellent if you want sweetness.
- Ancient Age: The bottom rung of the Buffalo Trace ladder and priced accordingly. Thin and simple at 80 proof, but it is recognisably the Mash Bill #2 recipe and it does its job in a highball without complaint.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Woodford Reserve Double Oaked if you want an overtly sweet, heavily oaked, dessert-leaning bourbon with more proof behind it.
- Go with Ancient Age if you want the cheapest honest mixer in the lineup and you are not drinking it neat.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Woodford Reserve Double Oaked); cocktails, highball (Ancient Age).