Hirsch Single Barrel Double Oak Review: One of the Most Interesting Double Oaked Bourbons We’ve Tried
Hirsch Bourbon
Hirsch Single Barrel Double Oak Review: One of the Most Interesting Double Oaked Bourbons We’ve Tried
There are a lot of double oaked bourbons on the shelf right now.
Some are rich and dessert-like. Some are oak bombs. Some taste like somebody left a bourbon barrel inside another bourbon barrel and hoped for the best.
But every now and then, a bottle comes along that actually feels intentional.
That’s where this Hirsch Selected Whiskeys Single Barrel Double Oak from Sam’s Whiskey Room enters the conversation.
This single barrel bourbon isn’t just another sourced whiskey with fancy packaging and the words “double oak” slapped on the label. On paper alone, this bottle immediately stands out in the modern bourbon world:
117.6 proof
7 years, 5 months old
Single barrel store pick
Double oaked bourbon
Unique mash bill featuring 15% malted barley
And that last part? That’s the real story here.
The Bourbon Specs
Hirsch Selected Whiskeys – Single Barrel Double Oak
Proof: 117.6
Age: 7 Years, 5 Months
Barrel #: 23-91G15
Yield: 196 Bottles
Store Pick: Sam’s Whiskey Room
Mash Bill: 72% Corn / 13% Rye / 15% Malted Barley
Award: 2025 L.A. Spirits Awards Platinum
In today’s bourbon landscape, sourced bourbon brands are everywhere. Some are excellent. Some are forgettable. The difference usually comes down to barrel selection and finishing quality.
Hirsch Selected Whiskeys operates as more of a curator and finishing brand than a traditional distillery. They source whiskey, select barrels, apply finishing techniques like double oak aging, and bottle the final product under the Hirsch name.
That means this bourbon lives or dies based on:
The quality of the original distillate
The barrel selection
The success of the double oak finishing process
And honestly? That’s what makes this bottle so fascinating.
What Does “Double Oaked Bourbon” Mean?
Double oaked bourbon typically starts life as a standard bourbon aged in a new charred oak barrel. After maturation, it’s transferred into a second barrel for additional aging or finishing.
That second barrel can be:
Toasted oak
Heavily charred oak
Custom oak finishing barrels
Specialty toasted staves
The goal is usually to amplify:
Vanilla
Caramel
Brown sugar
Oak spice
Texture and mouthfeel
The problem is that double oaked bourbon can become over-oaked very quickly. Some lose balance and end up tasting dry, bitter, or overly woody.
That’s why this Hirsch bourbon is so interesting.
Because the mash bill suggests they may have intentionally designed the whiskey to stand up against the extra oak influence.
The Mash Bill Is the Real Story
Most bourbon mash bills use:
70–80% corn
10–20% rye or wheat
5–10% malted barley
This Hirsch Single Barrel Double Oak uses:
72% corn
13% rye
15% malted barley
That’s unusually high malted barley content for bourbon.
Normally, malted barley serves primarily as an enzyme source during fermentation, helping convert starches into fermentable sugars for yeast. In most bourbons, it’s a supporting ingredient.
At 15%, it becomes a flavor component.
That higher malted barley percentage can create:
Nutty notes
Toasted grain character
Cocoa or chocolate tones
More layered mid-palate complexity
A softer, richer texture
In other words, this bourbon has more going on than just sweetness and oak.
And in a double oaked bourbon, that matters.
Is This Barton-Sourced Bourbon?
Hirsch does not publicly disclose all sourcing origins, but the mash bill strongly suggests this bourbon may originate from Barton or a similar Kentucky distillery known for higher malted barley content.
That matters because Barton-based bourbon often brings:
Rich caramel sweetness
Rounded mouthfeel
Softer spice
Excellent compatibility with secondary oak finishing
Whether confirmed or not, the profile absolutely points toward a bourbon built for finishing.
The Tasting Notes
Nose
Right away, the oak influence is obvious.
Big notes of:
Vanilla frosting
Brown sugar
Toasted oak
Caramelized sugar
Cocoa powder
Slight nuttiness
The proof carries the aroma well without becoming overly hot.
Palate
The first sip delivers a rich wave of caramel and vanilla, but the middle of the palate is where this bourbon separates itself from many double oaked bourbons.
Instead of becoming overly sweet or flat, the malted barley seems to add:
Chocolate tones
Toasted grain
Nutty depth
Layered richness
The oak builds gradually instead of dominating immediately.
At 117.6 proof, there’s plenty of intensity, but it drinks more controlled than the number suggests.
Finish
Long, warming, and oak-forward.
You’ll get:
Drying oak spice
Brown sugar
Toasted wood
Lingering caramel
The finish walks a fine line between rich and drying, which is typical for higher proof double oaked bourbon.
Is Hirsch Double Oak Worth It?
That depends entirely on what you want from bourbon.
If you want:
Bright rye spice
Traditional bourbon profiles
Light oak influence
This may not be your bottle.
But if you enjoy:
Double oaked bourbon
Barrel proof whiskey
Dessert-style bourbon
Layered oak character
Richer bourbon profiles
This bottle becomes very compelling.
Especially as a single barrel store pick.
Final Verdict
The modern bourbon market is crowded with sourced whiskey brands chasing hype, fancy labels, and secondary market attention.
This Hirsch Single Barrel Double Oak actually feels like there was thought behind it.
The high malted barley mash bill gives it a different texture and depth than most double oaked bourbons, while the proof and finishing create enough intensity to keep experienced bourbon drinkers interested.
Is it perfect? No.
But it is absolutely memorable.
And honestly, in today’s bourbon world, memorable counts for a lot.
Tortured Bourbon Rating
🥃 Hush Your Mouth
Rich, flavorful, layered, and genuinely interesting.
Not just another oak bomb.
Looking for More Bourbon Reviews?
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Double oaked bourbon
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