RD1 French Oak Finish Bourbon 750ML

RD1 French Oak Finish Bourbon 750ML is a 101-proof (50.5% ABV) Kentucky straight bourbon finished on French oak staves in a 750ml bottle. This expression earned Double Platinum at the 2023 Ascot Awards judged by Fred Minnick and 94 points at the 2023 New York International Spirits Competition, establishing it as a standout in the finished bourbon category.

Quick Facts: ABV: 50.5% (101 Proof)  |  Origin: Kentucky, USA  |  Minimum 4 Years, French Oak Finished  |  Distillery: Western Kentucky Distilling Co.

Production & Heritage

RD1 Spirits sources its bourbon from 8th generation Master Distiller Jacob Call at Western Kentucky Distilling Co. in Beaver Dam, Kentucky. The bourbon begins with a mashbill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley, aged a minimum of four years in new charred American oak barrels. What distinguishes this expression is the finishing process: French oak wood staves — sourced from the five great forests of Central France, seasoned for two to three years in Northern California, then cut, milled, and toasted to RD1's proprietary specifications — are inserted into the barrels for an additional two to four months. French oak's tighter grain structure imparts elevated tannins and subtle sweet-toasted characteristics that standard American oak cannot replicate.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Toasted oak and vanilla bean lead, followed by layers of caramel, baking spice, and light dried fruit. The French oak influence is evident in a refined, slightly sweet woody warmth beneath the classic bourbon aromatics.

Taste: The entry is rich and creamy, with caramel front and center. Dark cherries and honeyed grain fill the mid-palate, supported by warm baking spice and toasted French oak. At peak intensity, subtle dark chocolate and dark raspberry notes emerge, creating a s'mores-like complexity that balances sweetness against structured oak tannins.

Finish: Medium-long, drying to dark chocolate and oak with a gentle touch of smoke. Delicate coconut notes from the French oak staves linger quietly beneath the drying tannins.

How to Drink RD1 French Oak Finish

At 101 proof, this bourbon rewards neat sipping with a few minutes of rest in the glass to let the French oak nuances open up; a single large ice cube tames the proof while preserving the chocolate and caramel core. For cocktails, the finishing profile lends itself well to three specific builds: an Old Fashioned, where the dark chocolate and oak notes amplify the classic bitters-and-sugar framework; a Boulevardier, where the French oak tannins stand up to Campari's bitterness and sweet vermouth's herbal richness; and a Manhattan, where the dried fruit and cherry notes from the bourbon harmonize naturally with sweet vermouth.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast who appreciates unique barrel-finishing techniques
• Side-by-side tastings comparing French oak versus American oak influence on bourbon
• After-dinner sipping alongside dark chocolate or dessert
• Building a curated home bar focused on award-winning craft expressions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does RD1 French Oak Finish taste like? The dominant profile centers on creamy caramel, dark chocolate, and toasted French oak, with dark cherry and warm baking spice running through the mid-palate. The finish dries to oak and chocolate with a subtle touch of smoke and coconut.

How does RD1 French Oak Finish compare to Angel's Envy? Both are finished bourbons in a similar price tier, but their finishing wood creates distinctly different results — Angel's Envy uses port wine barrels, yielding maple and stone fruit sweetness, while RD1 uses toasted French oak staves that emphasize structured tannins, dark chocolate, and refined oak complexity. RD1 also comes in at a higher proof (101 versus Angel's Envy's 86.6), delivering more intensity on the palate.

Is RD1 French Oak Finish good for sipping neat? Yes, the 101 proof provides enough intensity to carry the French oak nuances without overwhelming heat, and the creamy mouthfeel and layered chocolate-caramel profile make it particularly well-suited to neat sipping.

Where is RD1 French Oak Finish made? The bourbon is distilled at Western Kentucky Distilling Co. in Beaver Dam, Kentucky, under the direction of 8th generation Master Distiller Jacob Call, and the French oak finishing is managed by RD1 Spirits using staves sourced from Central France.

What foods pair well with RD1 French Oak Finish? Dark chocolate truffles complement the bourbon's cocoa notes directly. Smoked brisket or barbecued pork ribs match the oak and smoke character. Crème brûlée echoes the caramel and vanilla. Aged Gruyère or Comté cheese mirrors the French oak's nutty, toasted complexity. Pecan pie reinforces the grain sweetness and baking spice.

What sizes does RD1 French Oak Finish come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format for this expression.

Is RD1 French Oak Finish worth the price? RD1 French Oak Finish positions as a premium craft bourbon, and its combination of a specific high-rye mashbill, minimum four-year aging, proprietary French oak finishing, and multiple competition accolades — including Double Platinum from the Ascot Awards and 94 points from the New York International Spirits Competition — provides strong value relative to other finished bourbons in the category.

Why RD1 French Oak Finish?

The differentiator here is the sourcing and preparation of the French oak itself: staves from Central France's premier forests, seasoned for two to three years before being custom-toasted to RD1's specifications, represent a level of wood management rarely seen in the bourbon world. That investment in raw materials translates directly into the glass — the tighter grain of French oak delivers a more refined tannin structure and deeper flavor complexity than typical bourbon finishing techniques achieve. Multiple independent competitions have validated this approach, with the expression earning 98 points at the 2023 MLSA Competition, Double Platinum at the 2023 Ascot Awards, and Best in Class for Special Barrel Finished bourbon with a Double Gold at the 2024 Los Angeles Invitational Wine & Spirits Challenge. For bourbon drinkers seeking something beyond standard barrel-finished expressions, RD1 French Oak Finish delivers genuine complexity rooted in thoughtful wood science rather than marketing novelty.