Booker's Bourbon Batch 2022-01 "Ronnie's Batch"

Uncorking 🍾 Let it rest for approximately 5 minutes. Appearance: Deep mahogany with hints of sunset, some ochre; the whiskey clearly leaves legs on the glass; Smell: Oh, notes of melted and burnt caramel, intense ethanol stings the nostrils, cherries, perhaps cherry cola, root beer sensations, oak and vanilla are present but not dominant; Taste: Fizzy cola, caramel continues onto the palate, the oak becomes noticeable and you can taste it, vanilla is also there, a touch of kettle corn at the end; Finish: Short, but beautiful, definitely a good one.

Mahogany color. On the nose, I detect dark cherries, brown sugar, vanilla ice cream, raw cinnamon stick, and some sweet oak. The mouthfeel is velvety, slightly oily, and warm. The palate has more brown sugar and cinnamon, vanilla bean, butter toffee, and boiled peanuts, with hints of black pepper, allspice, and dried figs, and just the right amount of oak. The finish is medium-long and hot, slightly drying, led by the oak and baking spices, with really none of the sweet elements from the nose and palate.

AROMA Oak, brown sugar, vanilla, roasted nuts, Bananas Foster, some coppery dried dark fruit, and a tad yeasty. This is closer to Booker’s batches from a few years back, heavy on the oak. TASTE Oak, complex dried dark fruit, brown sugar, fresh biscuits, roasted nuts, and some baking spice and copper. Warm and rich, this is what I’ve been missing from Booker’s. FINISH Long -> Oak, dried dark fruit, brown sugar, fruit.

3.5 stars - Quite nice. A 750 ml bottle. This isn't the typical Booker's. It reminds me of Baker's, or perhaps what a barrel-proof Evan Williams might be like. Abundant sweet corn, peanut, and oak. The usual Booker's notes of hay, aged wood, and leather are very subtle. Pleasantly smooth when sipped straight. Yes, it strongly resembles Baker's.

I really appreciate the texture of this; it's oily and somewhat heavy but remarkably smooth. With a single ice cube, it's very sweet initially – caramel, toffee, and vanilla, but with a green apple tartness too. Some leather and baking spice in the finish. Edit: increasing my rating from 3.5 to 4 after a second tasting. I simply love the nutty chocolate toffee profile of this one.

Absolutely stunning!! The texture is incredible! The flavors are deep and abundant! The charred oak is mellow and very inviting. I'm detecting a lot of molasses, corn syrup, and some leather. A sweetness like Red Velvet cake batter and natural vanilla extract! The oak finish definitely lasts!! A superb drink! *Extremely intricate; you can experience various flavor profiles*