Color: Burnt Umber (1.7), long streaky legs on the twirl - oily Nose: Hotter than expected at first with hints of molasses, cherries, and pickle brine (might be baking spices for others). After a few more whiffs I’m getting marshmallows, oranges, and leather. Very surprised at the heat of the nose given that it’s only 45%. Palate: A mild sour note precedes a burst of spicy oak, and a massive cherry bomb. Notes of dark chocolate, vanilla, coca-cola, butterscotch, and burnt sugar round out a surprisingly reserved palate that’s reminiscent of a flat cherry coke. Finish: Dry wood and cherry notes fade rather quickly, leaving a slight waxy coat in the mouth. Overall: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is a bit of an enigma for me. On the one hand it has one of the strongest noses I’ve ever encountered - made only more interesting by the fact it sits at a middling 45% abv. On the other hand, for all of its flavors it has one of the mildest palates and quickest finishes I’ve seen. What Double Oaked does well, it does really well: a wonderful assortment of flavors that break the mold of the traditional “cherry bomb” bourbon. What it doesn’t do well, however, is allow those flavors to truly shine: the palate is muted, and the finish is short. I’ll enjoy this for what it is, but I can’t shake the fact that its ceiling is so much higher - hopefully it’s one that can be reached in the future. 6/29/20