For the third consecutive year, two American craft specialists are teaming up to deliver something that bridges the gap between fine spirits and artisan confections. Woodford Reserve, the Kentucky bourbon producer known for its Double Oaked expression, has joined forces once again with Los Angeles-based chocolatier Compartés to create a limited-edition S'mores Chocolate Bar that captures the essence of a winter evening by the fire.
Image credit: Woodford Reserve
The collaboration represents a natural evolution of a partnership that began in 2024, when Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall and chocolatier Jonathan Grahm first combined their expertise. Their initial offering was a four-piece chocolate truffle collection, followed by a bourbon-infused chocolate bar inspired by the classic Old Fashioned cocktail. This latest release takes aim at the nostalgic flavors of campfire gatherings, translating them into a sophisticated treat for bourbon and chocolate enthusiasts.
The Making of a Seasonal Confection
At the heart of this year's chocolate bar lies Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon, a spirit that undergoes a unique aging process involving two charred oak barrels. This double-barrel method creates the bourbon's distinctive character, marked by prominent notes of vanilla, butterscotch, and caramel. These same flavor profiles now serve as the foundation for the S'mores Chocolate Bar.
Image credit: Woodford Reserve
The confection layers together toasted marshmallow, graham cracker, and rich dark chocolate with the bourbon's signature sweetness and warmth. The result aims to capture the experience of roasting marshmallows over an open flame without requiring any actual outdoor excursion—a fitting tribute to those who prefer their wilderness experiences with a bit more refinement.
"Double Oaked is born from fire—two charred oak barrels creating its distinctive warmth and depth," said Elizabeth McCall, Master Distiller at Woodford Reserve. "The flavors of Double Oaked lend themselves naturally to a S'mores experience—whether you're savoring the chocolate bar or sipping the S'more Old Fashioned. We wanted to create something that brings people together."
Beyond the Bar: A Cocktail Companion
Complementing the chocolate bar, Woodford Reserve has introduced the S'more Old Fashioned, a seasonal cocktail that takes the classic whiskey drink into dessert territory. The recipe calls for 1.5 ounces of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, combined with an ounce of light brown sugar simple syrup and two dashes of chocolate bitters.
Image credit: Woodford Reserve
The presentation adds theatrical flair to the drinking experience. The rim of a rocks glass gets dipped in chocolate syrup and crushed graham cracker before a large ice cube goes in. After stirring the ingredients together, a torched marshmallow serves as the garnish, bringing visual drama and an authentic smoky note to the finished drink.
This cocktail represents a deliberate shift toward embracing the colder months, offering something that feels appropriate for snow-dusted evenings rather than summer porch-sitting. The brown sugar simple syrup provides deeper molasses notes compared to standard simple syrup, while the chocolate bitters tie the drink directly to its dessert inspiration.
A Partnership Built on Shared Values
The ongoing collaboration between Woodford Reserve and Compartés stems from more than just compatible flavor profiles. Both brands operate with a focus on craftsmanship and tradition, albeit in different mediums.
Woodford Reserve produces its bourbon at a National Historic Landmark distillery in Versailles, Kentucky, right in the heart of thoroughbred country. The facility balances historic heritage with modern distilling practices, maintaining traditional methods while incorporating contemporary quality control. As a product of the Brown-Forman Corporation, Woodford Reserve shares company space with other notable brands including Jack Daniel's, Tequila Herradura, Old Forester, and Chambord.
Compartés brings its own legacy to the partnership. The company has been crafting chocolates in Los Angeles for nearly 75 years, starting as a small family business in 1950. About 15 years ago, Jonathan Grahm—who earned recognition on Forbes 30 Under 30—took over as Creative Director and Head Chocolatier, reimagining the brand while maintaining its artisan roots.
"Woodford Reserve has always been a stellar partner, and continuing to work with them allows us to create new ways for consumers to experience the magic of bourbon and chocolate," said Jonathan Grahm, Founder and Chocolatier at Compartés. "We're grateful for the partnership and proud of what we've built together."
The Compartés Difference
What sets Compartés apart in the chocolate world is its commitment to handcrafted production. Every day, a small team of chocolatiers and artists works in the Los Angeles kitchen, making chocolates from scratch rather than relying on mass production techniques. The brand's name itself, which means "to share" in Spanish, reflects its philosophy that fine chocolate should be experienced with others rather than consumed in solitude.
Over its decades in business, Compartés has sold more than 20 million chocolate bars and attracted a following that spans generations. Historical fans included Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and Winston Churchill. Contemporary admirers range from Oprah Winfrey and Elton John to Mindy Kaling and Billie Eilish. This celebrity appeal hasn't diluted the brand's focus on quality—if anything, it has reinforced the company's reputation for creating what many consider the world's finest chocolates.
The brand's approach treats each chocolate bar as something to be treasured and savored, not merely consumed. Traditional chocolates get reimagined with modern spins on classic flavor combinations and nostalgic tastes, creating products that feel both familiar and innovative.
Where Fire Meets Flavor
The connection between bourbon-making and chocolate-making runs deeper than might initially appear. Both crafts rely heavily on controlled heat to develop their signature characteristics. For Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, fire chars the inside of oak barrels, caramelizing the wood sugars and creating compounds that the bourbon extracts during aging. The second barrel, also heavily charred, intensifies these effects.
For the S'mores Chocolate Bar, fire plays a similarly crucial role. Toasting marshmallows creates the Maillard reaction, where sugars and proteins interact at high temperatures to produce complex flavors and aromas. Graham crackers undergo baking that develops their distinctive taste. Even the dark chocolate base has been roasted and processed using heat to bring out its full potential.
By combining these fire-touched ingredients with Double Oaked Bourbon, the chocolate bar creates layers of flavor that all trace back to controlled combustion. The vanilla and butterscotch notes from the bourbon's barrel aging harmonize with the caramelized sugars in toasted marshmallow. The oak tannins find common ground with the slightly bitter edge of dark chocolate. The graham cracker's whole grain character complements the bourbon's cereal grain base.
Practical Details for Interested Buyers
The Compartés x Woodford Reserve Double Oaked S'mores Chocolate Bar carries a suggested manufacturer's retail price of $9.95. Distribution covers fine retailers nationwide, making it accessible to those who prefer shopping locally for specialty food items. The bar is also available directly from the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky, which serves as both a production facility and a visitor destination.
For those who prefer online shopping, the bar ships nationwide through shop.woodfordreserve.com, Woodford Reserve's official e-commerce site. This provides an option for anyone living in areas without local retailers that carry the product or for those who simply prefer the convenience of home delivery.
The "limited-edition" designation means production runs won't continue indefinitely. Whether this becomes a recurring seasonal release or remains a one-time offering depends on factors the brands haven't publicly disclosed. Those interested in trying the product would be wise not to delay, as supplies could become scarce once word spreads among bourbon and chocolate enthusiasts.
The Broader Context of Bourbon Innovation
This collaboration fits into a larger trend of bourbon brands exploring applications beyond the rocks glass. The past decade has seen significant growth in bourbon-infused foods, from ice creams and barbecue sauces to coffee beans and maple syrup. These products allow distilleries to reach consumers who might not regularly drink spirits but appreciate the flavor profiles bourbon brings to other foods.
For Woodford Reserve specifically, these partnerships serve multiple purposes. They introduce the brand to new audiences, create talking points that generate media coverage, and position the bourbon as versatile rather than one-dimensional. Someone who tries the S'mores Chocolate Bar and enjoys the Double Oaked notes might be more inclined to purchase a bottle of the bourbon itself, either to make the S'more Old Fashioned or to sip neat.
The collaborations also leverage Compartés' established reputation and distribution network. Chocolate shops and specialty food retailers that might not typically stock alcohol can carry these bars, placing Woodford Reserve branding in retail environments the distillery couldn't otherwise access.
Craftsmanship in an Age of Mass Production
Both Woodford Reserve and Compartés operate in industries dominated by large-scale manufacturers. Major candy companies produce billions of chocolate bars annually, while massive distilleries output millions of gallons of spirits. Against this backdrop, both brands have staked their reputations on smaller-batch, more labor-intensive approaches.
Woodford Reserve's distillery in Versailles maintains copper pot stills and other traditional equipment, refusing to abandon methods that require more time and attention. The Double Oaked expression involves extra handling and additional barrel aging compared to standard bourbons, increasing both production costs and complexity.
Compartés handcrafts its chocolates daily in small quantities, with actual artisans overseeing each stage rather than automated assembly lines. This approach limits output but ensures quality control at a level impossible in factory settings.
The S'mores Chocolate Bar represents the convergence of these two craft-focused philosophies. Neither partner cut corners to make production easier or cheaper. Instead, they created something that honors both traditions while pushing into new territory.
Tasting Notes and Expectations
For those wondering what to expect from the S'mores Chocolate Bar, the flavor profile starts with the dark chocolate base, which provides a slightly bitter foundation that prevents the overall experience from becoming cloying. The graham cracker element adds a wholesome, wheat-forward note that cuts through the sweetness.
Toasted marshmallow brings both flavor and textural interest, with its characteristic vanilla-sugar taste and subtle burnt sugar notes. This is where the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked makes its presence known most clearly—the bourbon's own vanilla, butterscotch, and caramel notes align seamlessly with marshmallow's profile.
The alcohol content is low enough that the bar remains accessible to those who don't typically drink spirits, but present enough that bourbon enthusiasts will recognize the distinctive character Double Oaked brings. Unlike some bourbon-infused foods that taste more of artificial flavoring than actual whiskey, this collaboration reportedly delivers authentic spirit notes.
The Ritual of Seasonal Treats
Beyond the technical details of flavor chemistry and production methods, the S'mores Chocolate Bar taps into something more primal: the human desire for seasonal rituals and comfort foods. As temperatures drop and daylight hours shrink, people naturally gravitate toward warming flavors and cozy experiences.
S'mores themselves carry powerful nostalgic associations for many Americans—childhood camping trips, backyard fire pits, summer camp traditions. By repositioning these flavors for winter and adding bourbon's sophisticated edge, the collaboration creates something that feels both familiar and adult.
The timing of the release, coming as it does during the colder months, aligns with peak bourbon consumption season. While some spirits see summer spikes, brown liquor traditionally performs better in fall and winter when people seek warmth and richness rather than refreshment and lightness.
Looking Forward
As this marks the third year of the Woodford Reserve and Compartés partnership, questions naturally arise about what might come next. The progression from truffle collection to Old Fashioned-inspired bar to S'mores variation suggests a brand partnership that's still exploring possibilities rather than simply repeating formulas.
Future collaborations might explore other classic bourbon cocktails or lean into different seasonal themes. Spring and summer offerings could incorporate brighter, fresher flavors while maintaining the bourbon base. Fall releases might emphasize spice notes or harvest-inspired ingredients.
For now, though, the S'mores Chocolate Bar represents the current state of this ongoing conversation between distiller and chocolatier—a conversation conducted not through words but through carefully balanced flavors and shared commitment to craftsmanship.
Those interested in experiencing this latest chapter can find the bar at fine retailers nationwide, at the Woodford Reserve Distillery itself, or through the brand's website. Whether enjoyed alongside a S'more Old Fashioned cocktail or savored on its own, the chocolate bar offers a taste of what happens when two American craft traditions meet around the fire.
