Maple sugar candy | Toffee | Caramel | Light

Brown sugar | Caramel | Vanilla | Surge of baking spices

Heavy baking spices | Leather | Slight aged oak | Lingering sweet-spicy mix

Hirsch The Single Barrel Double Oak was released in late 2024 with two different age statements to choose from: a 10-year-old and a 9 year, 8 month old. Both whiskeys originated from the same mashbill, were bottled at a proof range of 110-115, and were aged for 8 years in 12-month air-dried, new, American oak barrels with a char #3. Of the 21 barrels selected for this release, 19 of the barrels were finished for 2 years in new custom American oak barrels with a char #1, and the remaining two barrels were aged for slightly less at 1 year and 8 months. The proof was lowered before transferring to the second barrels in an attempt to make the secondary aging “softer” according to the company.

The bottle’s label contains conflicting information, stating the bourbon was “Distilled in Lawrenceburg, IN” as well as “Kentucky Straight Bourbon.” While some of the company’s other bourbons are sourced from MGP, this particular release was distilled in Kentucky.

Hirsch The Single Barrel Double Oak is a traditionally inspired bourbon. It has a light but pleasant aroma that leans toward the sweeter side, with maple sugar candy, toffee, and caramel. On the palate, an assortment of sweet flavors emerges first, with brown sugar, caramel, and vanilla, but they are quickly overtaken by a surge of baking spices. The spice is heavy into the finish, and while notes of leather and aged oak poke through, it is borderline dominating. As it fades, a nice sweet-spice balance reemerges. Overall, this bourbon is enjoyable but spice-heavy, beginning on the midpalate, which prevents other flavors from showing through. It’s enjoyable in that sense, but given the price point and secondary oak finishing I hoped for a little more depth.