Cinnamon | Toasted oak | Freshly baked bread | Caramel

Cinnamon-sugar toast | Graham cracker | Seasoned oak | Caramel | Butterscotch | Baking spices

Baking spices | Graham cracker | Pie crust | Brown sugar

Purple Toad Winery & Distillery is a family-owned and operated company located in Paducah, Kentucky, approximately 200 miles west of Bardstown, Kentucky. The company opened their doors in 2009, initially only selling wine from grapes grown on their vineyard. Only recently did they build an on-site still, unveiling their first clear spirits in December 2024. Double Oaked 11 Year Kentucky Whiskey (94 Proof) is the lower proof version of 118 Proof release of the same name, both of which were made from sourced, hand-selected barrels and made from the same mashbill. The bottles are only distinguished by their proof and are available at Purple Toad’s tasting room and a limited number of Kentucky retailers.

Purple Toad’s Double Oaked Kentucky Whiskey is a full-flavored affair. It starts with cinnamon, toasted oak, freshly baked bread, and caramel on the nose. Cinnamon-sugar toast, graham cracker, and seasoned oak set up the base for the midpoint, with caramel, butterscotch, and a hint of baking spices adding contrast. The baking spices carry over into the finish, which brings additional notes of graham cracker, pie crust, and brown sugar.

Purple Toad Double Oaked 11 Year Kentucky Whiskey (94 Proof) is surprisingly more flavorful than its high proof counterpart, which is overshadowed by ethanol. It’s a full-flavored affair that focuses on cinnamon, caramel, and graham cracker at its core. Overall, it is an interesting whiskey and worth the price of entry.

The bottle in review is from batch 1.