Wanderfolk Distillery Double Barreled Ryes: New Releases from the Makers of Same Old Moses

Behind the Pour

Wanderfolk Distillery is known in craft spirits circles for Same Old Moses — a flagship expression that has built a genuine following. Their new double barreled rye releases extend that platform, taking the rye base spirit through a second barrel finishing period to add a new dimension to the same production foundation. Crystal and Roger work through the lineup and ask the question any double barreled release deserves: does the second barrel add something real, or is it a label change dressed up as innovation?

What You'll Discover

• What double barreling means: After initial maturation in a new charred oak barrel, the spirit is transferred to a second barrel for an additional finishing period. The second barrel may be a different wood type, a wine or spirit cask, or a differently prepared version of American oak — each produces different flavor additions.
• Why rye is a good base for double barreling: Rye whiskey's inherent spice and grain assertiveness creates a specific dynamic with finishing barrels. Unlike bourbon's sweetness, which can be overwhelmed by heavy wine cask influence, rye's structure often holds its character through the finishing period, with the second barrel adding complexity rather than replacing the base character.
• Same Old Moses as the foundation: Wanderfolk's production philosophy flows through all their expressions. Understanding the base character of their flagship helps calibrate what the double barreled expressions are doing differently.
• The specific expressions in the lineup: Crystal and Roger taste through the double barreled releases, identifying what each second barrel type contributes to the rye base — how the flavor additions differ between expressions and which one justifies the price premium.
• Wanderfolk's craft positioning: An independent craft distillery making finishing decisions as genuine production choices — not reacting to market trends but applying a specific production vision to each expression.

A Moment of Pourspective

A second barrel is a question about the first barrel's limitations. What does the spirit need that the first barrel was not able to provide? When a distillery can answer that question specifically, the double barreled release makes sense. When they cannot, the second barrel is just a story.

Explore the Conversation

The Wanderfolk double barreled rye episode is one of TLC's more producer-specific education discussions. Crystal's approach is to understand the Same Old Moses baseline before evaluating the finishing experiments — which is the right analytical order. The double barreling category framework is the episode's most broadly applicable section. Crystal explains the technique in terms that apply to any finished whiskey — not just Wanderfolk — giving listeners a tool for evaluating double barreled claims wherever they encounter them. At 22 minutes, this is a full tasting episode with enough time to work through multiple expressions. Crystal and Roger's comparison of the different second barrel types is the episode's most practically informative content.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Wanderfolk Distillery? Wanderfolk is a craft distillery known for Same Old Moses and their double barreled finishing program.
• What is Same Old Moses? Wanderfolk's flagship expression. The double barreled rye lineup builds on the same production foundation with a second barrel finishing period.
• What is double barreling? A finishing technique in which whiskey is transferred from its initial barrel to a second barrel for additional maturation, adding flavor character from the second wood type or cask history.
• Are all double barreled whiskeys worth it? No — the second barrel adds value when it is a deliberate production decision tied to a specific flavor goal. Crystal's framework for evaluating double barreled claims is in this episode.

Episode at a Glance

• Spirits reviewed: Wanderfolk Distillery Double Barreled Rye expressions
• Hosts: Crystal and Roger
• Runtime: 22 minutes, 48 seconds
• Category: Whiskey
• Topic: Double barreling as genuine production technique — tested against Wanderfolk's rye lineup