Home > Categories > Beverages > Ready To Drink > Woodstock - Bourbon and Cola review
Woodstock is a genuine Kentucky bourbon, wood aged in white oak barrels and charcoal filtered to capture that premium mellow flavour. It is available both as a full strength spirit as well as a convenient pre-mixed blend with cola. It is NZ's no. 1 selling bourbon-based RTD and is described by consumers as rich & smooth.
Woody's original target market was salt of the earth Kiwi blokes but because of a combination of pricing, distribution and promotion, everyone is now drinking one of Independent's most popular brands.
Product reviews...
There has always been a little bit of a war between Woodstock and Cody's. I don't aim to point out a winner here. It is a give and take anyway, depending on your tastes. With a similar alcohol percentage to beer, it isn't over the top like most RTDs, but it is one of those drinks that must be consumed cold and fresh, otherwise the cola leaves a fuzzy feeling in your mouth.
Woodstock Bourbon & Cola has always seemed like the 'lower-class' of the two brands; more of an 'Every man's' drink, which is probably why the advertising is targeting the 'Westie' and the common man. In my honest opinion I prefer this over Cody's, as it is a lot smoother on the taste buds, making it easier to drink. I've always struggled at drinking drinks that are too carbonated. Too gassy.
The bourbon flavor is subtle, but very much prevalent on your breath afterwards, and can often get you removed from a bar because they think you are intoxicated. Because the rum flavor is subtle, the cola flavor is much more noticeable and it is very sweet. This is another drink that you can get enough of very quickly. Tasty, but only in short doses. A great drink to share box with friends, but tiresome if drinking it solo.
I am a fan of Bourbon so having the choice to purchase Woodstock - Bourbon and Cola RTD's is the perfect drink to grab on the go to take to a friends BBQ at short notice. At my local bottle shop I have the choice to purchase single cans which is great so I can purchase a couple which is the perfect amount and I am not having to worry about storing the left over cans if I was to buy a box.
One thing I don't care for much is the 'fake' cola taste, it has a syrup taste and I find it very sweet, but I can look past this because of the convenience of it already being pre-mixed. I like having the choice of the different amounts of bourbon as well 5% and 8%. The bourbon taste is delicious and it is very nice going down...very smooth and gives that classic aged taste! I prefer Woodstock - Bourbon and Cola chilled as it just tastes nicer!
If you are a fan of bourbon and want the convenience of a pre-mixed drink give Woodstock - Bourbon and Cola a try. Hassle free evening as you don't have to worry about measuring out and mixing together your own drink, it is already all done for you, all you have to do is open the can and drink!
Give Woodstock - Bourbon and Cola a try it might just surprise you at how nice it tastes, quick easy and very hassle free drink.
We went to the beach for a few days this week. On the way to the camp ground I stopped at the alcohol store for a selection of drinks to enjoy once the kids were in bed. I didn't want a lot, and an RTD like Woodstock Bourbon and Cola was perfect. I had the choice of buying a pack of 4, 12 or buying cans individually. I loved that single cans were an option. The can I got was 440ml, with 5% or 1.7 standard drinks. The can it came in was black with the red Woodstock seal, which I imagine appeals to boys (my husband went through a "everything must be black" thing).
As I cracked the can open, I could smell a sweet scent of alcohol. It was mostly bourbon, masking any hint of the cola. On first taste of the drink, the bourbon came through really strongly with a warming sensation on the tongue, roof of mouth and down the throat. The cola taste was secondary and tasted a bit substandard. I could taste the caramel flavour of a cola but that's about it.
The drink was definitely nicest when it was chilled. When it warmed up slightly the taste of cheaper cola was more obvious. However, this did quench my thirst and was very satisfying after a hot day in the sun. As a baking or cooking additive this would be ideal. I have a couple of cola recipes that would benefit from a can of Woodstock Bourbon and Cola in substitution of plain cola. Imagine chocolate cupcakes with this giving you that bourbon chocolate flavour and the moistness to the cake. There is also a chicken meal I make with cola reduction which would probably taste incredible with this as the main ingredient instead.
Like a lot of other pre mixed drinks these are really good value for money. $10 for four bottles is really good price when you just want to have a few drinks on a Saturday and you can usually get a box of 12 fairly cheaply too. They taste alright, and are really easy to drink the 5% bottles don't really have a strong alcohol taste at all and go down quite nicely. The 8% bottles on the other hand have a really strong bourbon taste and I find it difficult to drink even one.
I personally would prefer to mix my own bourbon and coke using authentic coca cola as the cola in these has that cheap syrupy taste which i'm not a fan of. Also I don't know whether it is the cola or the bourbon itself but I always get a sore stomach after drinking them. When mixing your own is nor convenient these are definetly a good choice though.
For the days when you just need to have a drink (or two), these are perfect. My husband and I find that they are perfect for us.
They have just the right amount of alcohol for a night cap, but not enough to make us drunk. It's exactly the way that I like it, perfect mixture, and just the way that I would make it if I could be bothered.
I'd like it if it could be a bit easier on the pocket, but when it comes to convenience and taste, I will always buy this over any other brand, no matter the price difference.
For various reasons, I cannot drink wine, beers, nor other spirits (St Paddy's day's the exception). I've had to search long and hard for a drink for social occasions - tea or coffee don't go down well in a bar or tavern!
So now I always have a carton of Woodstock in the laundry cupboard - just for me. The cola syrup lets the drink go down smoothly, the alcohol percentage is big enough for a gentle kick but strong enough to not be like a soft drink. The twist cap lets the bottle be left covered if you have to join in on the dance floor or waft off somewhere for a short spell (or put it back in the cupboard to finish later.)
I recommend no chilling, as the flavours are enhanced at room temperature. (Making it taste indomitably better than its rival, whose name we won't mention here.) Often on a special price, lower than its rival too.
As mum to three, aged 25 to 34, it's a drink I can share with any one of them or their mates - but I'll NOT be telling them where my stash is! It's Mine! Mine, I tell you! Mine!
I am a bourbon and vodka man, and this fits my requirements perfectly.
The cola itself is not too acidically strong so as to burn the tastebuds off my tongue (as one popular brand does) and it slides down perfectly.
The bourbon in this drink is tasteable, but not over powering, and doesnt burn all the way down to the stomach.
Price is good at a measly $9.95, from where I got mine anyway.
Overall a very nice drink, that I'd have in my friidge at all times if possiblle, whether for parties or for just chilling out in front of the computer writing reviews.
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