Double Oak After Dark: Bardstown Discovery #13 vs Shortbarrel vs Crittenden vs Dettling 1867
If you thought double oaked bourbon was all marshmallows and dessert vibes, this episode politely disagrees — and then pours something north of 115 proof just to make its point.
Welcome back to Tortured Bourbon, the unapologetically chaotic bourbon show where Heather and B taste, debate, and occasionally pretend this is all very scientific. This is Part Three and the final chapter in our Double Oak series — and it’s the biggest, boldest lineup yet.
These aren’t gentle, sweet, beginner pours.
These are oak-forward, high-proof, flex-your-blending-muscle bottles designed to push double oaked bourbon into serious territory.
🪵 What Is Double Oaked Bourbon — And Why This Episode Hits Harder
Double oaked bourbon simply means the whiskey spends time in two separate oak environments. The first barrel — new, charred American oak — does the classic bourbon work: caramelizing sugars and building vanilla, toffee, spice, and oak structure.
The second oak interaction — whether it’s a full re-barrel, toasted barrels, or secondary maturation — is where things get interesting:
deeper caramelization
richer sweetness
heavier oak influence
darker fruit, spice, and char
n this episode, that second oak step isn’t just about sweetness — it’s about complexity, balance, and restraint, even at high proof.
🥃 The Double Oak Lineup (Final Round)
Bardstown Discovery Series #13 (Double-Barreled)
Distiller / Producer: Bardstown Bourbon Company
Proof: 110.8
Mashbill Blend:
• 9-year (74% corn / 18% rye / 8% malted barley)
• 9-year (78% corn / 10% rye / 12% malted barley)
• 15-year (75% corn / 13% rye / 12% malted barley)
• 8-year (70% corn / 21% rye / 9% malted barley)
Barreling / Finishing: Secondary aging in Hungarian & American oak — the first double-barreled Discovery Series release
MSRP: $140
Tasting Notes
Nose: Toffee, hazelnut, molasses, roasted oak
Palate: Honey, caramel, deep char, layered sweetness
Finish: Long, complex, dark fruit spice
Why It Matters:
This bottle is Bardstown doing what Bardstown does best — blending with confidence. Big, layered, and deliberate, Discovery #13 proves double oak doesn’t have to mean cloying sweetness.
Shortbarrel — Double Oaked
Distiller / Producer: Shortbarrel (sourced KY/IN; bottled in Georgia)
Proof: 119
Mashbill: Varies by batch
Barreling / Finishing: Secondary maturation in Kelvin Cooperage toasted barrels (Char 3–5)
MSRP: $70
Tasting Notes
Nose: Toasted marshmallow, dark caramel, baking spice, worn leather
Palate: Butterscotch, dried figs, charred sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon bark, heavy oak
Finish: Long and warming — pipe tobacco, sweet spice, toasted coconut
Why It Matters:
This is campfire candy with muscles. Bold, rich, and unapologetically oak-driven, Shortbarrel shows how toasted barrels can add depth without sacrificing intensity.
Crittenden — Double Oak
Distiller / Producer: Crittenden
Proof: 121.5
Mashbill: 72% corn / 17% rye / 11% barley
Barreling / Finishing: Double oak maturation
MSRP: Around $55
Tasting Notes
Nose: Developing
Palate: Developing
Finish: Developing
Why It Matters:
High proof, approachable pricing, and plenty of mystery. This bottle sparked debate at the table and reminded us that proof alone doesn’t tell the full story — execution does.
Dettling 1867
Distiller / Producer: Big Escambia Spirits (Atmore, Alabama)
Proof: 116.5
Mashbill: Multi-grain (corn, rye, barley, wheat, oats, rice)
Barreling / Finishing: Bottled-in-Bond; aged 4+ years in new American oak (Char #3–#4)
MSRP: $120–$200 (secondary varies)
Tasting Notes
Nose: Honey, cornbread, citrus peel
Palate: Bright vanilla, light spice, toffee
Finish: Clean, nutty, mild lingering oak
Why It Matters:
Dettling doesn’t chase trends — it builds something uniquely Southern. The multi-grain mashbill delivers balance and character that stands apart from the rest of the flight.
🥊 The Verdict: Who Wins the Double Oak Crown?
Heather and B put all four bottles through the full Tortured Bourbon gauntlet:
blind tasting
unfiltered debate
oak overload
Katie’s Corner tasting notes
our official rating system
(Cock of the Walk • Hush Your Mouth • That Dog Will Hunt • Bless Your Heart • Piddlin’)
This final round wasn’t about sweetness — it was about control, structure, and knowing when to let oak lead without letting it dominate.
You’ll have to watch to see who takes the crown… but trust us — opinions were strong.
▶️ Watch the Episode
Double Oak After Dark — Final Round
👉 https://youtu.be/gGnD79Q97E8
Pour a glass, crank the proof, and join us for the final chapter in our Double Oak trilogy.
