Booker's Bourbon Batch 2021-01 "Donohoe's Batch"

Score: 19/23 Nose: It's rich, but not incredibly dense. A deep sweetness seems to be building. Delicious caramel blended with molasses gives way to spices (ancho chili, ginger, clove, black pepper, cinnamon) and dark licorice. A hint of top-tier maple syrup. Some dry, tannic wood that isn't particularly exciting, but it does add some woodiness. Then, the characteristic peanuts appear. The aroma is quite subtle, but what's present hints at good things for the taste. Palate: Rich and fairly full, although the body doesn't quite fill out, typical of many products from this distillery. There are peanuts and licorice, reflecting the core flavors associated with the brand. A strong mineral quality from limestone runs through it. Spicy pepper notes, led by ginger and cinnamon, transition into clove. A touch of alcohol heat and ancho chili burn. To be clear, the alcohol presence is significant, but that's not unexpected for this bottling. It's somewhat sweet, like a diluted version of top-tier maple syrup. Some herbal notes emerge from the licorice. Sweet fruit finally makes an appearance, like apple with cherry in a supporting role. The flavors are intense and enjoyable, but a strong alcohol presence obscures them somewhat. It's a solid interpretation of a very common profile for this distillery. Finish: Minerals mingled with diluted top-tier maple syrup and dark licorice. Faint notes of peanuts and wood, but the finish is unexpectedly light. A subtle hint of creosote lingers on the long finish. - Summary - I found this enjoyable, though it didn't quite live up to the immense hype. It stands up well against the Booker's Shiny Barrel (rated 19/23). I appreciate that this expression has less alcohol and minerality, leaning me towards a higher score. However, the Shiny Barrel is at the lower end of that score, making this more of a high 19. The Shiny Barrel is nearly gone, so its quality might be declining due to oxidation. Wild Turkey Rare Breed (18-19/23) is surprisingly similar in quality, so a score of 20 seems improbable. Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof (21/23) is clearly superior, ruling out a score of 21. Considering these comparisons, I'm settling on a 19. It's a successful release for Booker's, but a letdown given the considerable anticipation. Reflecting on my recent tasting experiences and the current price of Booker's at $130, I believe I'm finished with this brand. I'll explore new releases at bars or through samples, but I'm unlikely to purchase another bottle in the near future. Many thanks to a friend for providing a sample of this. I was disappointed to have missed its release and have been curious about its taste ever since.

Nose: As expected from Booker's, it's robust with aged wood, brown sugar, and French vanilla ice cream. There's char from the barrel and a trace of smoke. You can discern the rye in the recipe, offering warm spice notes. Roasted nuts, like peanuts and almonds. It evokes dusty corn and leather, like wandering through a second-hand bookshop while enjoying rich hot chocolate. Grilled stone fruits with honey. A faint whisper of cherry. Not overly sweet, not too dry – it strikes a perfect balance. It clearly indicates a high proof, yet it doesn't sting your nostrils nearly as much as anticipated. Palate: A warming sensation, featuring oak, char, molasses, sugar, and vanilla. Swirls of apple with natural peanut butter, those grilled peaches with honey, and some whipped cream. The proof is much more apparent on the tongue. This, combined with the tannins, provides the signature texture you anticipate from this brand. Fiery cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of fennel. Again, it sits in the middle of the sweet/dry scale. Banana pudding, a mix of chocolate/carob/white chocolate chips, and Nilla Wafers. Excellent harmony throughout, with everything amplified, though the treble is even higher. It engages the entire palate. Medium-heavy body. Finish: Ethanol followed by the predictable notes – charred oak, molasses, vanilla, and brown sugar. Tastes like apple pie with extra spices. Leather emerges as the proof subsides. Roasted nuts, buttermilk biscuits, and dry coffee grounds. The tannins appear late but are a welcome addition. And so it fades. Medium-long duration. Other notes: It's Booker's. It felt fitting to conclude with the same two words used to start this review. While batch variations are evident, the profile remains within a consistent range. This particular bottling excels at preventing any single element from dominating, offering a true representation of what this line offers. Though not my top personal choice (2018-02), this is an outstanding introduction to the experience – if you were seeking a batch to begin with, you'd struggle to find a better one. I might purchase this again, a rarity for me in the current economic climate. Quite enjoyable.

Lately, I've been revisiting some older Booker's batches. Donohoe's Batch is fairly recent, so it'll be interesting to see if one of my favorite lines still holds up in quality. Nose: Steak with sauce immediately hits you. This is quickly followed by maple, cola, vanilla, caramel, milk chocolate, and brown sugar sweetness. Classic Beam peanut brittle. Orange zest, tobacco smoke, and sawdust. Black pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak complete a robust aroma. Palate: Peanut brittle from the start. The steak/steak sauce notes are also quite prominent. Caramel, vanilla, maple, toffee, nougat, and cola. It brings to mind a black cherry/vanilla soda. Black pepper, cinnamon, oak. Finish: Maple, cocoa, vanilla, cola, and a touch of caramel. Cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. As long as they can make them. Reminds me of Center Cut. That's the oldest Booker's batch I've had chronologically. Despite being 6 years apart, there's a lot of similarity, especially considering the variation between Booker's batches. 62.65% ABV. 6 years, 11 months, and 4 days. $80. Absolutely worth it. What a fantastic, potent, and flavorful bourbon. Long live the king. 5/5, and it's not even close.

I was thrilled to find this at a local shop for close to MSRP earlier this year. It had been ages since I'd seen Booker's at a sensible price, and even longer since I'd actually tried one. Within the last month and a half, I managed to acquire the Pigskin Batch locally, the Boston Batch in Yreka while en route to a funeral in Washington State, and was gifted the Backyard BBQ Batch by a nephew during that trip. Recalling my initial experiences with Booker's years ago, I was anticipating tasting all these batches with excitement. However, memories often don't align with reality, and that's the case here. Based on my recent encounters with these batches, while it's a solid bourbon, Booker's seems to have a limited flavor profile that lacks the fruit and savory notes I appreciate in a bourbon. Tasting notes: The nose has hints of oak, nuttiness, and creme brulee; the palate is a bit intense with grain, oak, and vanilla notes; the finish is long, intense, and bitter. I preferred it with a large ice cube, which actually brought out some dark fruit flavors.

BOOKER’S DONOHOE’S BATCH (2021-01) *AROMA: Thick and lingering with slow-moving legs. The scent begins with some heat, brown sugar, green peanut, black pepper, dry oak, root beer, vanilla, and fresh Play Doh. *NEAT: Dry, sweet, and oak-forward. Notes of sawdust, peanut butter, white chocolate, cinnamon, clove, rock candy, root beer, and sweet tannins. A lingering, warming finish with an escalating Kentucky hug. Peppery oak and vanilla coat and layer the entire palate, remaining long after the glass is empty. *Splash: A small amount of water reveals orange peel in both the aroma and taste. With a large ice cube, it transforms into liquid peanut brittle. Quite enjoyable. *CONCLUSION: Both Booker's releases I've sampled have been exceptional. It's disheartening to recall how I previously overlooked them on shelves priced at $50-$60. These barrels clearly represent Beam's optimal quality.

I was delighted to receive this as a gift and am eager to taste it. Batch 2021-01E. At 62.65% ABV, it's quite potent initially, so I added filtered water to bring it down to around 47%. Nose: A very traditional bourbon aroma. Plenty of caramel, with some vanilla and baking spice also present. Hints of burnt cinnamon toast – classic. Palate: There's a lot to experience here. Initial notes of salted caramel and some cinnamon. Definitely some nuttiness present. Delicious dry oak tannins follow, with a hint of peppermint lingering in the background. Finish: Long and dry. The oak tannins persist, complemented by notes of burnt brown sugar. The pleasant warming sensation on the palate is a nice late surprise. Overall, this is a delicious and spectacular whiskey. The high proof demonstrates confidence in the spirit. I'm grateful (especially since it's right after Thanksgiving) to have received this whisky!