Booker's Bourbon Batch 2018-04 "Kitchen Table"

The nose presents herbal notes with spices, particularly black pepper, and a hint of spearmint, along with earthy tones, some aged chocolate, traces of wet cardboard, and suggestions of rye tartness that also introduce some sweet fruitiness, nuttiness (almond and pecan), and faint buttery toffee undertones. While there's a lot going on in the nose eventually, the quality is inconsistent. Without water, there's the expected warm burn and sweetness. It's comforting and fairly rich, with pleasant toffee and apple and cherry notes alongside ample vanilla. The rye flavor is present but not overpowering. The almond comes through subtly, enhancing the sweetness and adding a rounded, oily richness. Herbal flavors are present but difficult to pinpoint, though they aren't excessively bitter. Adding water maintains the rich, oily nuttiness, with almond being a prominent flavor that contributes to the toffee richness. There's a lot of vanilla without a strong oak presence. A slightly rancid note is present but not overwhelming. Interesting herbal notes emerge with the addition of water, bringing spikes of bitterness and some pleasant licorice, but the final impression is one of rich, oily nuttiness with adequate sweetness and some fruit. Rye makes an appearance but doesn't dominate. This is very tasty and highly sippable, scoring around 16-17 for enjoyment. Compared to Blanton's, this is less sweet and fruity. Blanton's, in comparison, tastes more like an Armagnac or even a Cognac. Blanton's seems relatively weak due to its lower ABV, but its richness and age are evident, making a case for its quality. The smokiness in Blanton's provides a mature character but doesn't harmonize as well as Booker's does. It's difficult to drink Blanton's after Booker's. The almond is the standout here, adding a nice toasted barrel character while avoiding the harsh alcohol and banana notes found in Woodford Reserve Double Oak. This falls somewhere between Stagg Jr. and Wild Turkey 101 in terms of its flavor profile. It's quite spicy with a substantial woody barrel flavor and plenty of vanilla, but it also has some really nice sweet red fruit with a cherry emphasis that isn't overwhelming. The caramel is somewhat light and the wood is a bit pronounced (though not young, to be clear), but it remains quite good. It's a close competitor to Stagg Jr. and Wild Turkey 101, though it might exhibit slightly more immaturity. The finish has a somewhat bitter, herbal, fresh wood character.

Review originally posted in January 2019. This brand releases four batches annually. This review is for batch 2018-4, "Kitchen Table." This bottle is 64% ABV and was aged for six years, eight months, and seven days. I sampled this whiskey at full strength, diluted to approximately 100 proof, and diluted to 85 proof. The 100 proof version was my favorite. This whiskey has a dark amber/mahogany appearance. Straight from the bottle, I was surprised the aroma didn't overwhelm my senses! At full strength, the nose has dusty, musty oak and cocoa. Light vanilla sweetness, but less than most bourbons. After some time in the glass, notes of cloves and cinnamon emerge. Diluted to 100 proof, there's more caramel/vanilla, resembling a standard bourbon. At 85 proof, I noticed cherries; it's the first bourbon I've tasted where cherries were prominent. The full-strength palate features buttery caramel and toffee. Cinnamon. Vanilla. A thick, viscous mouthfeel. Plenty of heat, as expected. At 100 proof, there wasn't much change, just a more manageable and pleasant level of heat. At 85 proof, the cherry notes from the aroma came through on the palate. The full-strength finish was long, with dusty oak and leather. An unusual aftertaste, I can't quite place it. Green oak? Something green and musty. The finish at 100 and 85 proof was similar: slightly shorter, still some of the "green oak" character but less pronounced. This is a very good, almost excellent bourbon. At 128 proof in the bottle, you have the option to dilute the whiskey to your preference and even make a 750 ml bottle last longer than usual if desired. It's certainly more complex than a basic caramel/vanilla bourbon. The price doesn't vary much; I paid $70, and it's rare to find it even a few dollars cheaper. At that price point, it falls into the "special occasion" category for me, but it's still something I'd enjoy sharing with friends and family. A solid 4 out of 5.

This particular bottling from 2018, the final release of the year, aged for over six years and bottled at a very high proof. As a significant admirer of this brand, I'm curious how this batch compares. Nose: Gala apple, toffee, brown sugar, caramel, cocoa. Peanut brittle and peanut butter. The scent of new car leather is noticeable. Some barrel char and baking spices like cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. Prominent oak. In the background, there are subtle sweet notes of peach and carrot cake. Orange peel and apricot. Ginger, rosemary, allspice, and a hint of sun-dried tomato. Highly complex but not overwhelming. Palate: Caramel, cocoa, brown sugar, toffee, fudge, vanilla, butterscotch, and graham cracker. A strong peanut/peanut butter presence. Very oaky, with a touch of grass or hay. The barrel char gives it a texture like a crispy, charred steak. The carrot cake notes are still present but more subdued. Peach is also detectable. Black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove provide spice on the backend. Finish: An intense burst of spice and oak. Nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon carry through from the initial aroma to the end. Apricot and orange peel. More peanut/peanut butter. Caramel, cocoa, vanilla, and brown sugar. Additional spice emerges as the lengthy finish fades. Another excellent release. It might not be the absolute best I've had from this brand, but it's very close. In fact, the aroma might be the finest I've encountered from this line, potentially tying for the top spot. It's a powerful spirit, typical of this brand's releases, yet it remains exceptionally well-balanced and distinctive, even among other high-caliber offerings. It's disappointing that the price has increased significantly in recent years. Nevertheless, with such a quality product, I'm fully prepared to continue purchasing these releases. A perfect score.

Always high proof, always good whiskey, always the Jim Beam profile, haha. There are many excellent Booker's releases every year. This one's aroma has the apple, vanilla, and peanut distillery characteristics. The second wave brings caramel cream, cinnamon, sweetness, and oak, with some ethyl alcohol noticeable due to the proof. If you're not accustomed to high-proof spirits, this will taste hot, but if you are, there's not much alcohol burn on the palate. The salted peanuts are prominent initially, followed by cooked apple flavors (apple, sweet syrup, cinnamon, and a touch of nutmeg), then vanilla, caramel, and oak fall into place. The finish is medium-long, with most of the palate flavors carrying over except the salty peanuts. During the finish, the alcohol becomes more noticeable in the throat, and the warm Kentucky hug in the chest and some rye spice on the sides of the mouth are more apparent. At $78, it's a good value, offering a lot for the price if you enjoy high proof. Even if you don't, you don't need much when you dilute it with water. However, some are saying Booker's is increasing its price again to $90-100, which isn't justified as these are not limited editions and are readily available, nor is there a significant secondary market.

Selected as the top spirit of the day during a bourbon tasting with several other notable bottles. In the glass, it presents a lovely russet hue with slow-moving legs after swirling. On the nose, there's a slight alcohol sting (understandable given its high proof), some nutty notes, citrus, ginger spice, and a scent of aged oak, reminiscent of a traditional aging warehouse. On the palate, it's full-bodied with a remarkably smooth and creamy texture. It's not harsh at all (where did the alcohol go?), yet again, citrus, oak, and spice are present. Did I mention how creamy it is? 😁 On the finish, you experience some heat from the elevated proof, a peppery quality, and a note of aged leather. Adding water is an option, but I find it best enjoyed neat, as dilution diminishes the incredible mouthfeel and doesn't significantly reduce the alcohol burn. While not as exceptional as a specific previous batch, it's still a fantastic bourbon.

I had a unique chance to taste the 2018-03 release alongside the 04 batch. I got a 2 oz serving, and the bar had just poured the last ounce of 03 and served a measure of 04 in a separate glass. It might be just my imagination, but I think I can detect the impact of the extra months in the barrel. Even though the 04 bottle was just opened, it's smoother and sweeter, more rounded and richer compared to the younger, peppery 03. Nose: Maple syrup and buttered toast, licorice, peanut butter, vanilla, roasted nuts. Palate: Pecan pie, ice cream, anise, raisins, Graham crackers. Finish: Lingering, sweet, tannic wood notes, molasses.