Booker's Bourbon Batch 2023-04 "The Storyteller Batch"

Revisiting another Booker's bottling. As followers of my reviews know, I'm a fan. This is Batch 4 from 2023, bottled at 63.90% ABV, aged 7 years, 2 months, and 29 days. Let's explore its character. Aroma: Brown sugar and cocoa, black pepper, orange peel and ginger. Clove, nutmeg, and oak are present, along with hints of sawdust, Gala apple, cola, Irish soda bread, and rye spice. Dried fruits like raisin, date, and fig are also detected. Palate: Rich brown sugar and chewy caramel. Gala apple, with caramelized apple notes. Cherry and dried apricot. Peanut brittle, black tea, vanilla, and toffee. Nougat and milk chocolate. Spices like allspice, clove, nutmeg, black pepper, and oak. Finish: Lingering notes of peanut brittle and caramel. Cinnamon and a Red Hot candy sensation. Ginger, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak combine for an enduring finish. This is an intensely spiced spirit, with very noticeable black tea and tobacco undertones. I particularly appreciate the Booker's profile that includes notes of smoked meat, which this particular batch lacks. It aligns more with expressions like the Kentucky Chew, Kitchen Table, and Shiny Batch from the late 2010s. I've observed that more recent batches tend to deviate from this profile, making this bottling a welcome, nostalgic experience. The current price point is higher than for the previously mentioned batches. At $110, I find the cost substantial but in line with expectations for Booker's. It proved to be a worthwhile purchase. This is an exceptional bottle of bourbon, and I'm pleased to have acquired it later on. My rating is 5 out of 5.

Color: Medium Copper-Amber Smell: Smells like Booker's High-Proof, with oak and cinnamon red hots. Taste: The first tiny sip (neat) gave me a burn that cleared my sinuses. Ha! I'm definitely going to tame this beast with a large ice ball. A warmth spreads through my chest. The first sip with ice added... sweetness, spiciness (as expected). It's fairly balanced between the two... and here come the walnuts! Always a good addition. I really enjoy "nutty" bourbons. I'm detecting more, folks, but I just can't put it into words. I'm going to put it away and switch to a lower proof bottle. I'll try it again tomorrow. Profiles tend to develop and change over time for my palate — and this one will need time for me to fully grasp it. Suffice it to say, this is a "Good" higher-proof pour. Aftertaste: Lingering with a tingling spice on the tongue and more oak. Interesting... I reviewed "Charlie's Batch" previously, and that one came through loud and clear for me. It blew me away right from the start. Maybe, I won't like this one as much? We'll see....

DRANK NEAT AROMA - While not overpoweringly rich, the aroma is quite floral. It's surprisingly delicate given the spirit's proof. The scent is a perfect fusion of caramel, oak, and vanilla, with no single note dominating; they harmonize beautifully to create an excellent aroma. PALATE - The palate is somewhat less balanced than the aroma, primarily due to the oak being more pronounced than the nose suggested. Accompanying the distinct oak notes are hints of dark brown sugar and a touch of vanilla. The mouthfeel is rather unremarkable, neither coating the palate nor possessing significant viscosity. FINISH - Exceptionally long! The finish persists for an extended period. RECOMMENDATION - As my first experience with a Booker's batch, I consider it a worthwhile purchase. While I might hesitate to recommend it at its current price, I anticipate future batches with interest and endorse this bottle.

Sampled at a bar from a wide glass, so take this review with a grain of salt (photo is relevant)* Nose: Difficult to discern in the provided glass, but... Caramel, vanilla apple, cherry, blackberry pie filling, dusty fruitiness, and sweet. Taste: Cherry, cacao, waxy nuttiness, oak, with a warm, long finish. A fantastic dessert pour, warm, lingering, and sweet. It's like your first visit to Grandma's after summer, and she has her famous fruit pie with ice cream ready, mixed with the dust from the dirt road you drove there on.

A nose of roasted nuts and baking caramel, followed by a taste of burnt red apple, caramel, sweet vanilla, and light brown sugar. The finish is long with charred red apple and raw vanilla from the barrel. I suppose after consuming whiskey/whisky for as long as I have, truly exceptional products don't seem as impressive, though they still are. This is a good bourbon. I've had better Booker's products, however. I'm eager to try the 2024 releases.

An excellent Booker's bottle. Possibly surpasses C921, which is a personal favorite. It fully coats the mouth, not overly proofy like some Booker's can be. Surprising floral and, dare I say, some honey notes. The typical Booker's characteristics come through but are far less prominent. Purchase this one and get a backup; this is what a Booker's should be. I could write more and likely will.