Booker's Bourbon Batch 2017-01 "Tommy's Batch"

This year for the holidays I am going to sample a different whiskey each day in December. #lifegoals Dec. 17 When I first started drinking bourbon, I committed to collecting two specific things. Many collection choices have followed, but on day one, at a random liquor store near Bardstown, my commitment was to complete the Blanton’s letter collection challenge and to select a batch and gather all Booker’s from that specific batch. The batch I selected was 2015.01 (primarily because at the time, I didn't grasp the pre-2015 batch naming system). To this day, I've acquired them all up to 2019.03, including the 30th anniversary bottle. However, through this December experiment, a realization has dawned. Booker’s are meant for drinking, not for cellaring. Tommy’s Batch, or 2017.01, is bottled at 64.25% ABV. My usual impression of Booker’s aroma is favorable. They all present classic bourbon scents, but the sharpness obscures much of the character until you've had a good swirl. This one is no exception. Initially, I detect honey, powdered sugar, and a slight singeing of nasal hairs. Upon revisiting, towards the end of the tasting, I can also perceive some pecan and pepper. Wow. Not for the sensitive or those with chapped lips, this one. I'm getting dark chocolate here, more on the bitter side than sweet. There's also a significant amount of leather. I'd say the leather dominates. The finish offers brine and black pepper. Very saline, leaving a dry sensation. A pleasant warmth is felt on the sides of the tongue. With ice: remarkable, the nutty character really emerges in the aroma now. It has certainly become the primary element. A little sugar remains, but most of the other scents have vanished. The leather on the body is now pleasantly mellowed, favoring the dark chocolate which is, in my view, preferable. It still retains its bitterness and dryness, but it's more akin to a Cabernet and less like the underside of a well-used but poorly maintained saddle. The finish is more of an afterthought in this state, but if I had to identify a flavor, I'd say walnuts. Specifically, those intensely bitter ones. I'm actually looking forward to the (I have to estimate because my bourbon hoarding is so severe I don't actually know) 30+ bottles of Booker’s I am now giving myself permission to drink. Booker’s will never be my absolute favorite bourbon, but the interesting aspect of the product line is that occasionally they produce something superior to the generally acclaimed top-tier options. I would place “Off Your Rocker” in a blind taste test for the best portrayal of milk chocolate. Bring on your champion, no special barrel finishes allowed. In the specialized category of “Best in show once poured over ice and allowed to sit for about 5 minutes”, this particular one wouldn't win, but it would outperform both Blanton’s SFTB and Blanton’s Gold. I'm naming them because this is genuinely what it reminds me of when diluted slightly. It’s good spirit, and I suppose that’s my conclusion. Christmas arrived early this year in ’s private lounge. ‘Tis the season. I'm uncertain if I truly have 14 more new whiskeys planned, so if you're reading this and there's something readily available you'd like me to experience with enjoyment or displeasure this holiday season, please suggest it in the comments. Avoid mentioning WLW.

Rating: 18/23 Nose: Notes of woody leather with mint, hints of licorice, and lingering corn intertwined with vanilla for a touch of sweetness. It leans towards bitter but is rich and full-bodied. The slight minerality doesn't detract from the other aromas and doesn't diminish the fullness. Overall, a quite enjoyable nose, though potentially challenging. Palate: Sweeter than anticipated. It begins with cornbread, vanilla, and assertive spices. Subtle hints of medium-light caramel blend with honey. Following this, licorice, mint, and tannic leather emerge. There's also some creosote. The flavor becomes more bitter as it progresses on the palate, with only faint traces of cornbread and vanilla remaining. Minerality appears later in the palate, which is acceptable, but I'd prefer its absence. Finish: Licorice, leather, creosote, vanilla, mint, and a prominent vein of minerality. This is my least favorite aspect of the dram. It's not bad, but it shifts from impressive to merely adequate. - Conclusion - This is a very enjoyable dram overall. Has Booker's declined over the years? The richness and complexity displayed here are truly impressive. Blanton's (rated 20/23 - really? I doubt that. I need to reassess Blanton's) is far less full, with subtler complexity and more minerality. Reconsidering this, I'm now detecting that Beam peanut characteristic I missed before. Mmm, I prefer this one. This also surpasses my bottle of Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered (18/23) with its greater complexity and maturity. Based on this comparison, this is easily a 19. However, it won't exceed a 20. It's quite close to Booker's 2016-05 Off Your Rocker (20/23). Revisiting it, I don't find it to be vastly superior to Booker's 2015-06 Noe Secret (16/23). Despite its sweet richness, this remains the superior dram, but it's not a 19. I find this to be reasonably competitive with Russell's Reserve Single Barrel. My bottle of Balcones True Blue Cask Strength (19/23) handily outperforms this. I'm considering a 17 or 18 here. I'm tempted to rate it a 17, but given how much I enjoyed it previously, I'll assign it an 18. Thank you to for sharing this one as well.

The batch offers a scent similar to a familiar brand, making me eager to taste. Cherry is the dominant first aroma, accompanied by vanilla, caramel, and spicy oak. As it rests, notes of mint and a subtle dill emerge. The palate presents caramel and pepper, leading to a rush of heat followed by a strong oak presence. From this oak emerges mint, vanilla, cherry cola, and brown sugar. Vanilla and oak persist into the finish, with the vanilla intensifying as the oak recedes. Cherries reappear, and the peppery spice transforms into cinnamon. Overall, it's another superb small batch release from this distillery. Rated 4.5 stars.

This is a serious bourbon that demands your attention. It’s not something you just pour and chug. You should pour a small amount, let it sit for a bit, inhale, and get ready. The aroma features sugared apples and warming spices, alongside prominent oak and vanilla. The taste is a wave of caramel, so velvety it coats your mouth. Pause, let it linger, savor it, and only after you’ve explored its depths should you swallow. I’ve had eight other versions of Booker’s, and this one could top them all

This spirit engages the senses with classic bourbon aromas and tastes! The nose carries rye spices and a hint of barrel. It has a full, viscous mouthfeel. The taste is mildly sweet with prominent corn and additional spice. It concludes with cinnamon and a gentle warmth, considering the high alcohol content. The finish is only moderate, unlike the lingering embrace of other releases from this brand. Enjoyed with two ice cubes on a patio on a mild summer evening, marking the end of the school year for an educator!!! A blissful start to summer!

A robust bourbon that makes its presence known, with noticeable alcohol on both the aroma and the palate. It features notes of nutmeg, rich cream, dark preserved fruits, and sweet spices, reminiscent of eggnog. The initial taste is dominated by oak and bitterness, balanced by an underlying sweetness that gives the bitterness a dark chocolate character with high cacao content. The lengthy finish leaves a coating of honey sweetness and warmth. Excellent.