Review #624 - Hirsch Double Oak Single Barrel - LAX Wine & Spirits Pick
The Hirsch brand started with a legendary 16 year old bottling back in the 1990s, but these days, they use sourced whiskies from Kentucky and Indiana. Much of the whisky from Kentucky comes from Bardstown; while the source isn't specifically disclosed, the mashbill used for these double oaked 'gold label' single barrels consists of 72% corn, 13% rye, and 15% barley, which is consistent with the Willett distillery mashbill.
These double oak single barrels spend their first 8 years aging in a char #4 (very heavily charred) new oak barrel; after that, for an additional year, the bourbon is moved into a char #1 barrel. The total, then, is 9 years of maturation, which should give us plenty of oak influence. These are also bottled at barrel proof: 56.2% ABV, in this case.
This was a single barrel selected specifically for the LAX Wine & Spirits, a store with locations in Beltsville, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Hirsch Double Oak Single Barrel - LAX Wine & Spirits Pick
USA - Bourbon
Price: USD 110 (2025)
Age Statement: 9 Years
Strength: 56.2% ABV
Details: Barrel GLD23034, 244 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 4 months from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Rich dark oak with some soft rye spice - brown sugar, caramel, and creme brulee bring a sweeter side. There's a lot of spice, like licorice, anise, maybe even garam masala; dill adds more rye, and we get some leather and dark prune. At times, we got a mild savory side to the nose.
Palate: A medium-thick mouthfeel - very spicy and oaky, and notes like anise, licorice, and wood smoke dominate up front. It's almost overwhelmed by the oak, leaning mostly dry, but we do get subtle molasses and caramel; in time, the wood smoke grows stronger, bringing ash and char.
Finish: Leathery, smoky oak - it's very oak-dominated now. There are little hints of vanilla and creamy caramel, but for the most part, we're getting nutmeg, anise, black pepper, lots of dry wood. The aftertaste brings subtleties of rosemary and orange oil; it's a medium-long finish.
Final Note: This has a very pretty and punchy nose - a good mix of sweetness and spice, with those subtle savory scents adding an interesting element. After that, though, the palate and finish dove straight into the oak notes, and we didn't get a whole lot other than that - really dominated by oak. It's a good bourbon, but we would have enjoyed a bit more complexity and balance in the palate for this to be elevated to the next level.
Value here is okay - these single barrels from Hirsch, especially this gold label double oaked version, are a bit pricey, with a cost between $100 and $150 depending on where you find it. There are some other double-oaked bourbons that offer a more balanced tasting experience, and they can be found for much cheaper, too.
Our Average Rating: 6.8 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.70
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other double-oaked reviews:
Review #576 - Peerless Double Oak Bourbon Batch 15
Review #506 - Bib & Tucker Double Char Bourbon Batch 3
Review #488 - Barrell Foundation Double Barrel Bourbon
Review #406 - Hillrock Double Cask Rye Single Barrel
Review #279 - Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon
