Double Oak After Dark: Bardstown Discovery #13 vs Shortbarrel vs Crittenden vs Dettling 1867

Dec 12

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.