Booker's Bourbon Batch 2021-04 "Noe Strangers Batch"

It's been several years since I purchased a Booker's, and I missed out on the highly acclaimed batch 1 from 2021. I picked up this bottle based on some positive tasting notes. Let's see how it drinks... The aroma is caramel, cinnamon, and a faint hint of peanuts... it evokes the feeling of being at a ball game, yearning for peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Perhaps this pour will deliver a real treat... The initial sip is quite potent. There's a definite warmth with this one. I'm going to shift my perception now, as the Cracker Jacks are out of the picture, and I'm now getting Snickers bar vibes. Peanuts, caramel, and the cinnamon seems to have been replaced by cocoa and chocolate notes. The warmth is certainly strong and enveloping. As it subsides, however, I detect more of those roasted cocoa notes. Overall, this is pleasant. The warmth might deter some, so it might be best enjoyed with ice or a few drops of water. Booker's has been consistently good for me, but the price point is a drawback. Little Book is definitely the top tier for this brand, but this one is quite nice. I'm not sure I'd advise spending $100 given other barrel-proof options available at lower price points.

Aroma - abundant notes of red apple, gooey caramel, and roasted peanuts. Sweet red fruit is the dominant characteristic here. Taste - a noticeably sweeter start for a Booker's release. It reminds me of Anni's Answer. I'm getting Taffy apple, pure and simple. The palate remains consistent with the aroma. After resting, a brown sugar sweetness emerges, truly enhancing this expression. Finish - Sweet and rich best describes it. It's a carnival of red fruit, caramel, and roasted peanuts. A hint of pecan pie appears at the end. Overall - This is a sweeter Booker's, and perhaps less complex overall. It brings to mind Anni's Answer and Dot's Batch – bottles that could be shared casually without intimidation. Simply excellent, down-to-earth bourbon. If an alien visited and asked, "What is bourbon?" you could offer them a glass of this, and they would understand and appreciate it! What surprised me is that this batch seems a bit younger. It doesn't taste that way at all. I suspect older barrels are also part of the blend, as the foundation is delicious. It requires no water at all. Beam consistently delivers a quality product.

I've grown to really appreciate this batch as the bottle level has decreased. What makes this batch truly stand out is that despite its high proof, it drinks much smoother than expected. Comparing it to something like a 1792 full proof isn't entirely fair, given their different price points, but the Booker's offering provides greater depth, richness, and an experience you can truly savor without the heat being the primary characteristic. On the palate, I detect significant cherry notes, and it has a very long finish that lingers on the tongue. The nose presents the typical Booker's peanut note, but it isn't overpowering. A tip for those of us who enjoy Booker's: always keep about 4 ounces of each bottle in a smaller sample container. This allows you to conduct blind tastings of various offerings in the future after you've consumed several bottles. I've been doing this, and it's a fantastic way to revisit older bottles multiple times.

The moment this bottle was opened, the intensity was apparent. After a few minutes in the glass, the aroma revealed heavy brown sugar and lingering ethanol. On the palate neat, cinnamon spice hits immediately, yet it's surprisingly smooth. The brown sugar is prominent, along with some cherry and a subtle nuttiness. Adding ice transforms it, introducing vanilla and mellowing the spice; I personally preferred this much more. The finish is rather long from the spice and quite enjoyable. I need to compare it with 2021-3, but overall, it's pretty good. I'm unsure if it's worth the $90 price tag.

Wow. This is simply magnificent. Very close to a perfect score, (I might round up later). It resembles natural peanut butter with the oil separated on top, requiring mixing. However, when not fully combined, that ideal peanut flavor gloriously coats your tongue. Then, the perfect spice emerges with warming cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. Hints of chocolate complete the profile. The finish is long and deep, with a fleeting coffee note. The oily peanut essence just lingers, bringing a smile.

The aroma presents balanced vanilla, nuts, cinnamon, and apple. The scent indicates this is a high-proof bourbon, yet it is not harsh to smell. The taste offers fair amounts of nuts and apples, reminiscent of those flavors. As the bottle airs out, the heat becomes less prominent. It has a pleasing mouthfeel. The finish is lengthy and concludes with a nutty character. Overall, it is an excellent bourbon, but it is excessively priced. A lower price point, around sixty to seventy dollars, would earn it a higher score.