Booker's Bourbon Batch 2022-02 "The Lumberyard Batch"

Booker’s remains one of the few whiskey lines that consistently impresses me. It's unfortunate that I've only managed to acquire one from 2022 so far. I must make it a priority if this one proves worthwhile. At 62.4% ABV, this isn't the highest proof for a Booker’s batch, but I'm confident one of these bottlings will leave a mark. Nose: Abundant brown sugar, vanilla, and caramel. Peanut brittle and sawdust. Spearmint. Strong cocoa. Some tangerine. Faint tobacco. A touch of steak sauce, which I occasionally detect in Booker’s, though it's usually more pronounced or absent. Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and oak spice. Palate: Gala apple and chewy caramel. Toasted almond and light burnt wood. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak deliver a kick. A hint of cherry. Peanut brittle/butter. Cocoa. Red hot candy. Pumpkin spice. Finish: Fudge, cocoa, caramel, and brown sugar. A solid brown sugar profile. Pumpkin spice. Tangerine and orange citrus. Pipe smoke. Red hot candy. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and oak. The finish is lengthy—exceptionally so. I discovered this review in my records from December 2024. I had simply forgotten to upload it to the platform. I was searching for it because I'm about to review the Kentucky Tea Batch from 2022 and wanted to revisit my impressions of this one. Since I made an error and am uploading this over a year after tasting and writing it, I'll be brief. This is among the finest batches I've experienced. Absolutely worth the $110 price. 5/5, exceptional quality. Look forward to the Kentucky Tea review.

Poured a small amount at a friend's place, this is a really excellent Bookers batch. It's worthy of a write-up… Smell: Primarily rich candied nuts, perhaps pecans, with a faint peanut scent lurking behind. Undiluted: A somewhat subdued start with sweet caramel notes appearing on the mid-palate, blossoming into vibrant citrus flavors – orange, lemon, lime are all present. The warmth intensifies with the citrus, but it’s not unpleasant, leading to a warm and invigorating embrace. Aftertaste: The embrace slowly fades, leaving some lasting warmth and hints of sweet caramel. A touch of bright citrus zest remains. Warmth and perhaps a little dried fruit. With three drops of water: The water enhances the nose, bringing out a fruitier aroma, possibly pear or fresh apple. The palate now offers green apple and white pepper, alongside light caramel and butterscotch. Overall: An outstanding Bookers release; I wish I had a full bottle and a backup. Truly great bourbon, and somewhat distinctive.

Aroma - lots of apple initially. As it settles, the apple disappears and I get a lot of spices: cinnamon, bay leaf, and nutmeg. Not getting the typical peanut notes from Bookers/Beam. Taste - Honestly, not getting the typical peanut notes from Bookers/Beam here either. Caramel and vanilla are dominant from start to finish. A big, buttery, creamy finish. Very smooth; it drinks below its stated proof. Overall - this is very good. More sweet than bold. Love the buttery/creamy finish. The caramel and vanilla are fantastic.

NOSE Dark dried fruit with a strong raspberry note, oak, brown sugar, vanilla taffy, sour cherry candy, a hint of cinnamon and menthol. Oh, Booker's, I've really missed your classic aroma. PALATE Roasted peanut, dried dark fruit, oak, butterscotch, cinnamon, menthol, vanilla taffy, and some coppery lemon peel. This is a classic Booker's palate; I love it! FINISH Long, with notes of vanilla cupcake, oak, baking spice, and roasted nuts.

For a thorough assessment, refer to the review by WhiskeyJug. I detect a blend of raspberry and peanut flavors. This particular Booker's pour is, in my estimation, excellent and best enjoyed on a warm Sunday afternoon outdoors after church, especially in early spring. It's a classic Booker's, and I'm fond of it.

This is by far my favorite Booker's! I had given up on Booker's, as I'm not particularly fond of the price, especially when you can get a Knob Creek 12 for $55. But I tried this at a bar, and wow, it was amazing!