Booker's Bourbon Batch 2017-02 "Blue Knights Batch"

When I saw this on the shelf, I knew I had to order a pour. I recalled having Booker's on my wish list to sample, but it was just Booker's in general; any Booker's I could taste before committing to a whole bottle. When I ordered this, I was told I had made an excellent choice. This is reportedly a rarer bottle, and I'm sure I'll never find it again once it's finished at the establishment where I found it. Surely I won't find this on a shelf at a liquor store, so I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to try it at all. From what I've read, it's not a perfect example of Booker's overall, so I will still need to explore this line further before buying a full bottle—oh, what a dram. Alas, let's get to the notes... Nose: Unlike other reviews here, I didn't find an overwhelming amount of alcohol in the nose; yes, the aroma was present, but it wasn't nose-hair-singeing. Vanilla, cream, caramel, almond, coconut, and orange peel. Some spice—baking spice, perhaps nutmeg. Flavor: Low alcohol burn, but very creamy; however, beware—that burn that wasn't so prominent sneaks up from behind and will get you! The 'burn' comes from notes of cinnamon and black pepper. It also has vanilla and creamy flavors alongside it. Then, a smokiness appears at the back end. Even with that surprising sneaky kick of spice, the flavor remains reminiscent of cream and sweetness. I added 1 small ice cube, and it retained the exact same profile. Overall, a very nice sample of Booker's, and I do feel lucky to have had the chance to try this one, but more exploration of this brand is needed for me to decide if I'm a fan of the more readily available bottles. Ratings have no bearing on cost—just my impressions.

Here's another addition to what is arguably my favorite bourbon product line, and one of my top picks among all whiskeys. This was a difficult find--it's the second of four batches from 2017. At 63.7% ABV, this promises a powerful experience--it's among the strongest batches I've encountered to date. Let's see if the quality measures up. Nose: Caramel, vanilla, peanut brittle, brown sugar. Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and oak. An unusual but welcome cocoa butter note. Dried apricot and a hint of menthol. An intriguing aroma. Palate: Peanut brittle, caramel, cocoa, fudge, and brown sugar. Apple and cherry. Steel-cut oatmeal. Dried apricot and other dried fruits. Nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, and oak. A prominent ginger note. Extremely spicy. Crispy barrel char. Outstanding. Finish: Peanut brittle, caramel, brown sugar, caramel, and dried apricot. Cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg, and oak. As long a finish as you can get. Superb. I've stated this before, and I'll say it again. I consider Booker's to be a 5-star whiskey. I'm simply here to document the variation in tasting notes. This particular batch certainly offered that. It's distinct from any Booker's batch I've previously tasted. It upholds the standard of the best of them. 5 stars. I would unquestionably place this among the top tier of Booker's batches and bourbons in general. I would like to sample some of the other 2017 batches if possible. For now, this is an excellent example from that year. If you have even a slight preference for Booker's or cask-strength bourbon, purchase it immediately. An absolute gem.

This is my initial experience with Booker's, and I find it quite pleasant. The aroma is full of cherry sweetness, very much like a Cherry Vanilla Coke. There's a subtle touch of oak, but less than I prefer. The full proof is surprisingly mellow, not overwhelming, which is unexpected given its young age of just over 6 years. The barrel selection must be excellent. The palate is rich in tannins, and this is where the oak flavor is prominent. It truly coats the mouth with a rich, luxurious taste and a nearly waxy texture. The finish is delightful, featuring dark cooked fruits, reminiscent of cherry pie, blended with the warmth from the proof and abundant cinnamon and oak. After consuming about half, I added water, which brought forward a vanilla cream flavor and livened up the palate. Unfortunately, water diminishes the finish, introducing honey and some citrus acidity, making the wood's astringency too noticeable. I struggle to see how this line can justify a price point near $100, as it falls significantly short of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (still around $70-80) in my opinion.

From Jim Beam Distillery, this Kentucky Straight Bourbon is 6 years, 3 months, and 6 days old at 127.4 proof. The mashbill is 77% Corn, 13% Rye, and 10% Malted Barley. It cost between $75 and $90 and has a medium-dark amber color. The nose presents smooth alcohol, toffee, cocoa, cereal oats, and a hint of herbal/mossy/grassy notes. The palate is full and warm with brown sugar sweetness, a touch of spice, oak, black cherry, subtle peanuts, and a hint of leather. The finish is long, warm yet smooth, with oak, leather, spice, herbal notes, and peanuts. My personal rating is 8.25/10. I always adore Booker's; it consistently provides a delicious experience regardless of the batch. While some batches are better than others, they are all top-tier. Regarding the Blue Knight Batch, it appears to substitute the typical leathery notes for peanut and moss, which is quite pleasing. The peanut flavor becomes more prominent with continued tasting. It is quite warm, so adding a little water or an ice cube is an option, but I prefer it as is. For any Booker's batch, do yourself a favor and get a bottle.

As with most spirits bottled directly from the cask, the intensity can be detected on the nose, but for this Booker's bottling, you also get vanilla, and even some smoke and leather. The alcohol still dominates, however. The palate is unfortunately underwhelming. The intensity is quickly noticeable due to the high proof but is soon followed by caramel. It's really quite one-dimensional. It's not bad, but the subtle leather and smoke from the nose are absent. Perhaps a hint on the finish, but even that is muted, and you primarily feel the burn going down with a touch of spice. Adding a bit of water doesn't change much, other than reducing the alcohol's initial impact on the nose and on the way down. It remains one-dimensional with caramel being the primary flavor. I've sampled several Booker's bourbons, but this one seems better suited for a high-quality cocktail like a mint julep rather than sipping it straight. Decent, but ultimately disappointing.

Poured straight up in a rocks glass at the bar from a bottle that was 80% full, suggesting it had time to mellow in the bottle. Tastes like a sugary rum syrup with notes of black tea and a gentle spicy warmth on the finish. The finish is long with minimal heat. Wonderfully harmonious with a distinct Booker's character. It's comparable to 2018-4 "Kitchen Sink" As good as I thought it would be