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Woodford Reserve Double Oaked vs Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an uncut, rye-forward heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve Double Oaked | Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 7 years |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 115.2 proof (57.6% ABV) +25 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$50 – $62 ~$7 less | ~$60 – $65 |
- 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.
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/8 heat: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 4 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 8 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
oak 9/7 oak: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 9 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 8 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 3 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year: Penelope's uncut flagship, now with a seven-year age statement. It is richer and spicier than the Four Grain, with caramel and rye spice carried by a lot of proof.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Woodford Reserve Double Oaked if you want an overtly sweet, heavily oaked, dessert-leaning bourbon at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year if you want a well-priced, seven-year, uncut blend with real depth and spice with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Woodford Reserve Double Oaked); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year).