Booker’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
62.45% ABV/124.9 Proof
$56 to $60
Widely Available
What the Distillery Says:
In 1992, Booker Noe introduced his own signature bourbon, Booker’s® True Barrel Bourbon. Inspired by a 200-year-old tradition, Booker’s is the first bourbon bottled straight-from-the-barrel, uncut and unfiltered. First created as a holiday gift for his special friends, Booker’s whiskey was so well-received that he decided to make it available to bourbon lovers worldwide; much to the joy of spirit connoisseurs everywhere.
Unlike anything you have ever tasted, Booker’s is one of the only uncut, unfiltered, straight-from-the-barrel, bourbons available today. It’s bottled at its natural proof of between 121 and 127, and aged between six and eight years. Booker’s Bourbon delivers a range of intense flavors from oak tannin and smoky vanilla to lighter tones of mocha and coffee. Add spring water to customize the taste and finish to your palate. The complexity provided by this straight-from-the-barrel bourbon makes Booker’s the rarest, absolute best bourbon you’ll ever taste.
Tasting Notes
Age: 6 to 8 years
Proof: 121 to 127
Color: Deep, rich, smoky amber
Aroma: Big oak, vanilla, smoky charcoal
Taste: Intense, fruit, tannin, tobacco
Finish: Clean, long, intense
What Richard Says:
Nose: I would expect the nose to be very hot at bottling proof but it’s surprisingly muted. With water it turns to burnt sugar, leather, and oranges.
Palate: Oily, peppery, and hot. Water sweetens the pot and tamps down the heat and pepper. Candied apples come to mind.
Finish: Hot and lingering. Water makes it clean and short.
Comments: Nothing against Booker or his namesake bourbon but I like this one the least of the Small Batch Collection. It’s a nice bourbon and it definitely stands out from the crowd but it doesn’t really do anything for me.
Rating: Stands Out