Booker's Bourbon Batch 2021-02 "Tagalong Batch"

To switch things up, a friend sent me a collection of samples that have either shapes or a code on them, preventing me from knowing their identity until after tasting. Will I mistake a rye for bourbon or entirely miss a finish? Who knows, but I'm eager to find out, so let's proceed with this blind challenge using the vial marked B4. The aroma begins with top-quality dark maple syrup drizzled over fresh flapjacks cooked in browned butter, followed by fruit toppings of sautéed cinnamon apples, grilled peaches with brown sugar, a hint of orange zest, and maraschino cherries. This is then complemented by dark chocolate-covered candied pecans, ginger, and aged leather wrapped around polished mahogany furniture, with a moderate ethanol burn. The taste presents a rich, syrupy mouthfeel, starting with top-quality dark maple syrup over those flapjacks soaked in browned butter, then comes the fruit: sautéed cinnamon apples, grilled peaches with brown sugar, an orange sports drink, and cherries jubilee. This is followed by a mild spice that fades into dark chocolate-covered candied pecans, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and aged leather wrapped around polished mahogany furniture, with a moderate ethanol burn. The finish is lengthy, featuring dark chocolate oranges, honeycomb, toasted coconut, candied pecans, a subtle chalky orange flavor, a slice of hot apple pie with vanilla ice cream, premium leather boots, and polished mahogany that lingers for minutes. Wow, what an incredibly fantastic bourbon. You can tell it's going to be great just from that rich aroma, which incorporates all the traditional bourbon flavors but amplifies them significantly. The taste mirrors the aroma, maintaining those traditional bourbon flavor notes at an elevated level with a thick mouthfeel, a mild spice, and a finish that seems to last forever. Alright, this appears to be aiming for a perfect score, so it's time for another head-to-head comparison with the Garrison Brothers Cowboy. In direct comparison, it was close, but the Cowboy ultimately took the lead, really bringing out what I perceive as a chalky orange flavor characteristic of that distillery, which I don't favor in this particular spirit. If that specific flavor doesn't bother you, I'd recommend purchasing this mystery bottle. I haven't correctly guessed any of these blind tastings yet, but based on prior experience with that distinct distillery note appearing in the middle and finish, I believe this is a blended spirit composed of whiskeys from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana, aged over 15 years, and bottled by Barrell. Well, it's time to email my friend and find out if I'm correct that this is Barrell 15. The email with the picture reveals... Booker’s “Tagalong Batch” 2021-02. Well, hot damn, I was completely wrong! Alas, this is a stunningly good bourbon. Expert tasting notes from a known source indicate a children's vitamin flavor, which must be where I perceived that distillery's character mixed with Kentucky notes. I also didn't experience the typical Booker’s burn that I usually notice, but a lesson has been learned, and I probably won't attempt to guess the bottle again in the future.

Rating: 19/23. Blind tasting. All I know is that it's bourbon. Aroma: Rich and full with wood, corny sweetness carrying a hint of caramel, and a hint of tangerine. Something a bit tart with a licorice bitterness and a light character that makes me think Beam, but then it fills in and I have second thoughts. Ah, there's some toastiness that leans into the peanut category. Possibly a little sweet tobacco. Leaving this in my glass for a while, some slightly dusty, dried-out wood emerges. Palate: Bold and rich. The peanuts come out strongly with some corn sweetness that carries a dash of orange zest. Big barrel flavor with black pepper, clove, and ginger. Licorice appears with a dash of slightly salty minerality. There's some other herbal bitterness and also a touch of oil and smoky char. Finish: Bold. Licorice is the main element here. Some tannic wood, black pepper. Numbing clove for sure. Not much sweetness at this point. Conclusion: Booker's Shiny Barrel (19) is more bitter and less full. The Shiny Barrel is really full for a Beam product, but it's not as full as plenty of other bourbons. I definitely like the overall character of this one better. Belle Meade Cask Strength (19), on the other hand, is neck and neck with this. I might have overestimated the Shiny Barrel at a 19. Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8 (18) is pretty close to this, but I'd say that this is a bit better. At the other end, Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Proof (21) definitely surpasses this. I think I'm looking at a 19 or 20 here. Coming back to this for one last tasting, I find that I still adore the complexity here, but it is a bit lacking in fullness (I actually now think that the Booker's surpasses it) and it also has a tad of meatiness. I think that's coming from the sour mash, so it's not the same as that really awful meatiness from feinty young whiskey, but it's there and I don't love it. Now, Belle Meade surpasses this and Wild Turkey Rare Breed is pretty close. A 20 is out of the picture now. So is it an 18 or a 19? Well, a 19 was a possibility both times, so I'm going with it, but I do feel like I might be starting to discover some of the flaws here that could cause me to go with an even lower rating than an 18. Thanks, a friend, for sharing this! I keep wondering whether Booker's is as good as I once thought it was. Well, trying it blind has restored my faith.

I'm not sure what the excitement is about, but I felt compelled to buy it for $77. While not the lowest price ever, it's still quite expensive for a 6-year-old, full-proof bourbon. They say the profile has changed. They say Booker's is the best. I'm unsure what to believe anymore. It's just pricier, especially with strong alternatives available. The nose begins with typical Beam scents: dried oak, brown sugar, cherries, red-hot candies, and a nutty note. So far, it reminds me of Baker's 13 and some good Knob Creek store picks. Full disclosure: I enjoy Beam products. Initial taste impression: this is Booker's. It's intense, packed with flavors consistent with the nose, and has more white pepper and wood than Knob Creek. There are some pleasant toasted nut and black tea elements. My only minor criticism is a subtle black walnut note on the finish, which might be off-putting to those sensitive to bitterness. Warm Kentucky hug - confirmed. More wood than expected for a young bourbon - confirmed. A slightly drying, even tannic finish. Composed of barrels from three distillation dates and aged in six different rickhouse locations. Nearly 70% originates from the 6th and 7th floors of a 9-story rickhouse, while the remaining 30% comes from the middle sections of four other rickhouses. I wouldn't be surprised if parts of this blend are closer to 13-14 years old due to the tannic wood notes, but the younger 6-year barrels likely contribute the pop of brown sugar and cherry esters. It's Booker's. It's likely worth a premium over Knob Creek 9-year-old due to its increased complexity, but you must appreciate that pepper, tannic wood, and heat. Is it comparable to JD barrel strength or ECBP at $55-70 when available? No. Is it as approachable and well-rounded as 1792 FP, which can sometimes be found around $40-50? No. If you prefer bold and classic, and once widely accessible, this still holds a place. It's solid, not exceptional. If it consistently appears under $80, I'll keep one on hand. Any higher prices, like $95+, and I'll stick with OGD 114 and KC 9 store picks. Nevertheless, I appreciate what is produced.

Smell: toffee, brown sugar, vanilla, pine, spearmint, black tea, intense oak, nutmeg, clove, leather, juniper, black pepper, walnut, grape, coffee, herbal notes, plum, and a moderate ethanol burn. Taste: rich caramel, vanilla, black cherry, chili pepper, lemon oil, allspice, nutmeg, spearmint, brown sugar, spicy oak, leather, black tea, plum, orange, coffee, apple, a moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with caramel, baking spice, bitter citrus, and intense oak flavors. The fourth of nine samples tasted blind begins with woody, herbal aromas. It has a really pleasant combination of notes I don't typically find in a single glass of whiskey. Dark fruits, caramel, earthy mint, pine, and some juniper. In fact, it has distinct gin-like qualities. The palate carries some of those same notes. Intense oak and deep citrus are also very prominent. This is a genuinely good, intricate whiskey. I suspect it has significant age, perhaps even too much, given the black tea and excessive wood in the aroma and taste. While this isn't my preferred whiskey profile, it's distinctive and deserves a high score from me. So, what am I drinking tonight? Booker’s Tagalong Batch. Unbelievable, it's a Booker's?! This tastes considerably older than six years, and I've never encountered a batch so herbaceous. This is excellent stuff and drinks well below its stated proof. Many thanks to a friend for the generous sample!

The usual complex Booker's aroma which includes vanilla, leather/oak combo, but a slightly less alcohol burn and more cinnamon than other batches. I concur with the distiller's notes of "sweet brown wood sugar" mouth flavor as it is a great description. Less peanut aroma and taste than my normal Booker's experience. Creamy mouthfeel. To me, this batch is defined by the accomplishment that is the finish. Most notably, the whiskey travels down the esophagus in a welcoming way without the alcohol heat quickly ramping up in my mouth, throat, and chest immediately after the swallow like previous batches. Finish has an immediate spice pop, with baking spices dominating, and peanut does come through as it lingers. Baking spices (cinnamon) are still present after one minute. Due to the smooth finish, you will likely find yourself pouring from this bottle for another dram during your session. I have poured more drams than I normally do for a high-proofer on this one out of sheer enjoyment. Well done in my opinion. Note: This is my 1st published whiskey review, and I only did so as I cannot find any reviews at all on the internet for this bottle that I purchased today 6/9/21. I have quite a whiskey collection and taste often, and most importantly, I published this to help you all with your purchasing decisions. I hope I was helpful. This is a Buy!

Finally a fresh bottle of Booker's, these are hard to get in my area, and a price under $90 is more than welcome. Mine was tagged around $89 (big city inflation no doubt). On the nose, fresh orchard notes are abundant, green apple and pear, but "fresh" is the key. A bit of warm sweet brown sugar and caramel notes peek through. Full proof is the best and that's what you get with Booker's; I've never had a bad one, but I suppose there is always a first time. The orchard notes lead but give way to the very strong spice rack - cinnamon, allspice, clove, nutmeg, yes, that's accurate. Almost a bit of a high rye aspect without the common rye dill; the sugars follow warm and sweet, brown sugar and caramel; not really very unusual for Mr. Noe, and that's one of the reasons I bank on this bottle delivering. Probably less appealing than some of the fresh "baked" batches that have scored so highly, but still so hardy and even-tempered in delivery. One of the easiest to sip full proofs you will find. A newly opened bottle with just a sliver already taken off the top, I'm probably just going to enjoy this one and not save it. Still waiting to be disappointed by the simple wood box; for any hard core Booker's enthusiast, it's an easy recommendation. Cheers!