2XO Vinyl Bourbon Review – Is This the Thriller of Bourbon?

Written By Tortured Bourbon

🎬 Click here to watch “Spinning the Vinyl – 2XO’s Latest Bourbon Drops the Needle”

Double-oaked, music-inspired, and dripping with style—does 2XO’s latest release spin like a classic or skip like a dollar-bin letdown? In this Tortured Bourbon review, we drop the needle on the Vinyl Blend, the sixth release in Dixon Dedman’s ICON Series, and decide if it belongs in your bourbon rotation.

A Bourbon That Thinks It’s Thriller?

Let’s be clear: calling your bourbon Vinyl sets some expectations. 2XO Vinyl Bourbon, created by master blender Dixon Dedman, promises a full-album experience — a layered, soulful pour that hits all the right notes. But we ask the real question: is it Thriller, or is it Milli Vanilli?

This bottle is more than a gimmick. It’s double-oaked, drawn from two proprietary mash bills (one high-rye and one moderate-rye), and a portion is re-barreled in new charred oak for a second hit of barrel influence. That’s Two Times Oak — the name and the game.

B: “Think of it like remixing a bourbon classic with a Rick Rubin production—aggressive, smooth, and unpredictable.”

2XO Vinyl Bourbon: The Stats

  • Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

  • Proof: Varies by batch (~100–104 proof)

  • Process: Double-barreled

  • Mash Bills: Two proprietary blends – high-rye & moderate-rye

  • Series: ICON Series (6th release)

  • Price: ~$90–100

  • Maker: Dixon Dedman (also revived Kentucky Owl)

Tasting Notes – According to the Hype

Before we sipped, we looked up what we’re supposed to find in this pour:

Nose: Vanilla cream, baking spice, roasted nuts, graham cracker, pipe tobacco

Palate: Crème brûlée, toasted oak, grilled pineapple, honeysuckle

Finish: Long, spicy, rich with dark fruit and lingering oak

Heather: “That sounds like someone trying to describe The Wall using only Yankee Candle scents.”

What We Actually Got

🥃 Our Real Tasting Notes

  • Nose: Warm baking spice, hint of fruit compote, a touch of toasted sugar

  • Palate: Creamy vanilla meets citrus zest, balanced with charred oak and buttery toffee

  • Finish: Medium-long, with spice, oak, and a kiss of dark chocolate

It’s a layered pour — not too sweet, not too hot. And it holds up whether you’re sipping neat or spinning Fleetwood Mac in the background.

Bonus Segment: Bourbon Meets Album Vibes 🎶

Heather’s game “Album Drops” pairs iconic records with iconic pours. Here’s a few from the episode:

  • Thriller – Michael Jackson → Elijah Craig Toasted

  • The White Album – The Beatles → Wild Turkey Rare Breed

  • Let It Bleed – Rolling Stones → Four Roses Single Barrel

  • Purple Rain – Prince → Blanton’s

  • Nevermind – Nirvana → Old Forester 1920

  • Rumours – Fleetwood Mac → Woodford Double Oaked

B: “Because nothing pairs with emotional damage like a wheated bourbon and Stevie Nicks.”

2XO Vinyl vs. Other 2XO Releases

We also tease out how Vinyl stacks up against:

  • The Phoenix Blend

  • American Oak

  • The Innkeeper’s Blend

  • French Oak

Spoiler alert: Vinyl holds its own with personality, balance, and an easy-drinking profile that hits most of the right notes.

Watch the Full Episode

🎬 Click here to watch “Spinning the Vinyl – 2XO’s Latest Bourbon Drops the Needle”

You’ll get tasting notes, musical pairing madness, pop culture snark, and that signature Tortured Bourbon flair.

Your Turn to Drop the Needle

👇 What’s your favorite album and bourbon pairing? Tell us in the comments — we just might feature it in our next episode.

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Cheers, Y’all

Whether you’re here for Dixon Dedman, vinyl aesthetics, or just bourbon that slaps, 2XO Vinyl offers a pour worth spinning more than once.

Tortured Bourbon
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