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Booker's Small Batch Bourbon

This malt-head is now a believer.

0 593

@hunggarReview by @hunggar

22nd Mar 2013

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Booker's Small Batch Bourbon
  • Nose
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  • Taste
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  • Finish
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  • Balance
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  • Overall
    93

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This is my first bourbon review, so be gentle. I'm not a bourbon guy. I've tried various expressions at various times throughout my life, and I never fell in love with it. My reactions to bourbon are rarely negative, but they haven't been particularly passionate either. I'm more into single malts and good blends and blah blah blah you've heard all this before.

BUT... I'd love to get into it. All I need is to find that special bourbon that will enchant me and perhaps ease me into the wonderful world of bourbon. Could this be the one?

Nose: Being a malt lover I notice the rye first. Oak, cherry, molasses, nute, Lyle's Golden Syrup, some gentle spices, orange rind, and tobacco. What a thick and busy nose. Absolutely lovely.

Palate: Intense. Molasses, licorice, cherries, cajun BBQ sauce, birch wood, spices, and roasted vanilla. Very warming and rich.

Finish: Quite long. Very smooth and balanced. Oak and molasses again, with maraschino cherries and some lovely tobacco notes.

This is by far the best bourbon I've had. Granted, I haven't had many. But I think this may just be the one which converts me into a believer. I'm absolutely loving this expression. I think I may pour myself a second dram...

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5 comments

@Victor
Victor commented

@hunggar, thanks for your nice review.

When I describe Booker's to others I just say that it is Quintessential Bourbon, the very model of full-bodied bourbon, cherry-picked barrels, uncut, and unfiltered. If people want to know what the essence of bourbon tastes like, I send them to Bookers.

11 years ago 1Who liked this?

@hunggar
hunggar commented

I agree completely. It's got everything I've been looking for in a bourbon. Some of the lesser expressions I've tried haven't come near the richness or complexity of this one. I wish/hope there's a lot more great bourbons out there with this bold, rich, intensity. In all honesty, I do find some members of the bourbon family to be somewhat flat or lacking in dimension/complexity when compared with single malts. Perhaps that was a snap judgement, though. I think it's time to revisit the world of bourbon with a fresh pair of eyes (I know that doesn't really make sense, but a fresh set of taste buds doesn't have quite the same ring to it!). Cheers!

11 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@hunggar, there are a lot of other excellent bourbons out there. Sounds like your preferences go for the big flavours. The best big flavour ones are hard to get and may be quite expensive. Older (8 to 23 years old) Willett Private Single Barrels, Four Roses Barrel Strength Limited Editions, William Larue Weller (wheated), George T. Stagg, Eagle Rare 17 (that one is only at 45% ABV though) are good choices. More from Beam small batch: Baker's and Knob Creek Single Barrel are quite nice. Basil Hayden's is nice but quite a few people find it a bit thin at 40% abv. Hancock's Reserve is a very nice one too, as are all of the Col E H Taylor bourbons. Among the wheated bourbons the Parkers Heritage 10 yo is fantastic, and most editions of it are at barrel strength.

Cheers!

11 years ago 0

@GBrough
GBrough commented

I cant wait to try barrel proof bourbons, in my area all we have is bookers bourbon and wild turkey rare breed. I enjoy full bodied bourbons and this one seems like the perfect one to replace angels envy.

11 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@Victor, a big thank you for pointing me in the right direction. I don't think I've had a Whisky with a bigger flavour!

I'm still a malt fan, but this is up there with the best of them.

10 years ago 0