Yonsei Bourbon Project
Last year Chef Kyle and a few members of our team traveled to Kentucky to partner with Woodford Reserve on a single-barrel selection. They walked the rickhouse and tasted through barrels until they found the one — not the loudest pour in the room, but the one that works best alongside our food.
A Barrel Chosen for the Food
Our Woodford Double Oaked Bourbon is a single-barrel selection personally sourced by Chef Kyle and our team members, Hannah, Daniel, and Akia, on site in Kentucky. They chose it for its balance: pronounced caramel, toasted oak, and vanilla layered over a soft sweetness, with no excessive heat or bitterness. The flavors beautifully echo the umami and smoke in our food.
What is Double Oaked?
After initial aging, the bourbon is transferred into a second barrel — deeply toasted, lightly charred — which amplifies texture without adding heat or proof. The result is a richer mouthfeel, deeper notes of caramelized sugar and baking spice, and a longer, smoother finish. Woodford's balanced mash bill (72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley) is what allows the extra oak influence without becoming sharp.
We describe it as behaving like a good tare or nikiri: something that pulls everything together without overpowering the ingredient. More depth, more length, more character.
Drink Our Bourbon
This premium bourbon deserves a simple pour. We recommend it neat, on the rocks, or as a highball. It is also shines in classic cocktails like a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned.
At Yonsei
Our Yonsei Bourbon is available by the ounce and by the bottle at both Yonsei locations - Albany & Oakland. Also available at our sister restaurant, Itani Ramen.
At Home
Add a bottle to your bar cart at home! Visit either location of Yonsei Handrolls or Itani Ramen and ask to purchase a bottle to-go. 750ml bottles are $175. Makes a great gift!
Soon you will also be able to order our bourbon online for pickup or delivery in the East Bay!
Bottle Keep in Albany
On your next visit to Yonsei Handrolls • Albany, you can purchase a bottle as part of our Bottle Keep program. A tag with your name is added to the bottle then stored on the shelf above our bar. Each time you visit, enjoy a pour from your bottle. Will definitely impress your guests!
