A little background
Green River Toasted Double Oak is an eight-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 115.1 proof and retailing for $49.99 — though you’ll need to make a trip to either the Green River Distilling Co. in Owensboro or the brand’s Louisville tasting room to get your hands on it, as this one is a distillery-exclusive release available only in 375 mL bottles. It’s the inaugural release in Green River’s new Distillery Select series, which is designed to showcase some of the best whiskey coming out of the historic Owensboro distillery. Built on Green River’s classic mash bill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley, Green River Toasted Double Oak starts its life the same way as the rest of the lineup — aged in the distillery’s signature clay tile rickhouses.
What sets this one apart is the finishing process. Thirteen hand-selected barrels from Warehouse B — where temperatures regularly climb well above 100 degrees — spent six months in a secondary new American oak barrel from Independent Stave Company, specifically a light char, medium toast spec chosen to pull wood sugars to the forefront. Master Blender Dan Callaway notes that Green River’s naturally fruit-forward profile is well-suited for double-barrel treatment, and the extra time in wood is meant to amplify sweetness and spice rather than mask the core character. Green River Toasted Double Oak earned a Double Gold medal with 96 points at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, making it the highest-decorated release in the brand’s modern history.
(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)
Color
Dark Gold
| Mash Bill | Nose | Taste | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 % corn, 21 % rye, and 9 % malted barley | Toasted marshmallow, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, graham cracker, vanilla, baking spice | Caramel, maple syrup, cinnamon graham cracker, vanilla, brown sugar, pecan candy, oak | Black pepper, tobacco, toasted coconut, molasses, dried fig, baking spice, oak |
In closing
Green River Toasted Double Oak is an outstanding example of how a secondary barrel finish can elevate a whiskey without overshadowing its foundation. The toasted oak influence adds layers of brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, and baking spice while allowing Green River’s signature fruit-forward character to remain firmly intact. Despite its robust 115.1 proof, the whiskey remains remarkably balanced and approachable, culminating in a long, satisfying finish filled with black pepper, molasses, toasted oak, and dried fruit notes.
While the distillery-exclusive 375 mL format may limit accessibility for some consumers, those with the opportunity to visit Owensboro or Louisville will find a bottle well worth seeking out. More importantly, this release showcases the potential of Green River’s aging stocks and finishing program. As the inaugural entry in the Distillery Select series, Toasted Double Oak sets a high bar and stands as one of the most impressive and compelling whiskeys Green River has released to date.
NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Green River Distillery. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.
Green River Toasted Double Oak
The Good
- Toasted Barrel Integration
- Solid Value
- Dessert-Like Flavor Profile
The Bad
- Limited Availability
- Toasted Finish Forward
