Booker's Bourbon Batch 2023-02 "Apprentice Batch"

Smells like vanilla and clove, which is great for the aroma – I'd use it as a cologne. Smooth mouthfeel, it coats the middle and sides of my tongue. Bright citrus flavors come first, then it becomes lightly woody and nutty. The flavor was a bit less intense than I anticipated, but it's very good.

I didn't really care for this. It drinks its 125 proof, but mellows with a little water. I definitely detect leather on the palate. The finish is extremely long and quite bitter. Not very pleasant. I was let down after spending $100 on it. It makes a decent Manhattan.

This might not be the worst bourbon I've encountered, but it's certainly the strangest. The nose is very faint. It's hot on the palate with an odd finish. As more people discover it, this might end up sitting on shelves for a while. Did anyone at the distillery taste this before it was bottled?

Vanilla, baked apple, and nutty notes greet the senses. A notable warmth arrives upfront, followed by leather and oak mid-palate. The taste concludes with a peppery warmth that persists. The proof is discernible but not overwhelming.

Smells of honey, sawdust, and vanilla with rye, leather, and green apple. The palate is creamy, and I can see the lemon/lime meringue from the earlier review. Caramel apple and oak emerge from the sides. Peppery cinnamon candy on the finish.

The aroma is complex and citrusy, with subtle hints of stone fruit and a background whisper of the characteristic peanut profile. The palate is viscous, presenting vanilla and caramel alongside a lightly oaked character. The finish is smooth and enduring.