Booker's Bourbon Batch 2018-03 "Kentucky Chew"

This was something I'd been meaning to try for a while, but only found myself willing to drop the coin on the bottle recently. It certainly does have a full flavor (to say the least)! The nose is pleasantly sweet like I would seek out in my normal favorites. Not sure I'd want to make a room smell like it, but I certainly don't mind the scent of corn and leather being the last thing I experience before I taste. The sweetness on this bottle is subdued, but very fulfilling. The Booker's "Kentucky Chew," is a very high ABV (supposedly one of their, if not the, highest proof's they bottle), and if you're drinking it neat you're going to feel inch of it. I added some water to mine on the second taste to get it down to about 90-100 proof. The flavors are still well pronounced, but there remains a pervasive burn that is especially troublesome if you catch it in the back of your throat. That said the finish is clean and I find the total flavor profile (bittersweet, clinging to the tip and center of my tongue) to be very appealing. Since I can get my favorite for just a little bit less strain on the wallet, I'm not sure I'll pick up another bottle any time soon- but I certainly wouldn't turn it down if offered. Tasted neat and watered to approx 95 proof.

Impressions, newer bottle, no water added: Strong aromas of salted caramel, peanuts, Red Hots, and acetone on the nose, which carry through on the palate, with the Red Hot notes dominating the mid-palate and finish. The mouthfeel begins full and creamy, but quickly becomes prickly and spicy. It stops just short of becoming astringent, finishing on an oaky diet cola note. As expected, the finish is powerfully hot and long, but enjoyably so. The neck pours were a bit heavy on the peanut notes, but oxidation has brought the caramel and spice notes into better focus. It's a bit too savory for my tastes, but it's a very well-made and engaging dram. It takes water well, and becomes really approachable around a 1:6 ratio. Update: with 1/3 bottle remaining, the cherry cola flavors have really come into focus and the bourbon shows a nice balance of sweet and tart. This one really improves over time.

Tasted blind at a friend's house. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium-dark amber. Nose: Caramel, vanilla, raisins. Palate: Clove, cinnamon, oak. Finish: Long and very warm. Splash: The clove really shines with just a few drops of water. Overall: 8/10 - Classic bourbon notes with a long finish. The proof only shows at the very end, and the high rye is evident throughout. This would stand up well to ice or a cocktail, and I'll probably never see it again.

Received a blind sample.from a friend. Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium-dark amber. Nose: Caramel, cherries, other dark fruits. Palate: Cinnamon red hots. Finish: Medium heat, but lingering and thick. Splash: A few drops calms the cinnamon spice, allowing a dry oakiness through. Overall: 9.5/10 - This is classic bourbon, and I expect that it's been in oak for quite a while. It's nearly perfect with just a few drops of water.

3/29/20 revision- retried this back to back with stagg jr batch 12. stagg jr is almost all top end. this covered my palate with richness & better balance. so enjoyable. upped the review to 4.25. original review - the review is pretty true to form. takes a lot to get the sweetness out of this one, whether adding an ice cube or water. the longer it sits on the tongue, the sweeter the profile turns. other than that, it's spicy & dark.

Wow! Hot! I definitely had to mellow this bad boy out with a few cubes. Overall it's very good, but definitely not an easy sip. Alcohol, leather and vanilla on the nose. You can taste the spice throughout the sip. Definitely feel some notes of allspice & cinnamon. Long hot finish. Be careful the finish doesn't catch you in the nose. It'll clear your sinuses!