Booker's Bourbon Batch 2019-03 "Country Ham"

Rating: 17/23 Wow, I just looked back at my last (and only) tasting and I sure didn't say much. How did I get halfway through this bottle with so little written about it? Seems totally out of character. N: Peanuts for sure. Kind of rich and sweet. A little bit of some sort of fruit (apricot?) starts coming in with some mustiness and spiciness that that reminds me of Thai food a little when combined with the peanut. It isn't a super complex nose, but it's very balanced and I really like it. I'm expecting a super hedonistic whiskey here. P: Somewhat spicy with a dry peanut flavor. The proof burns, but I wouldn't call this harsh. There's a nice richness here, but it could use a bit more fullness. I do start to get the faintest whiff of apricot, actually. I wonder if that was always there or if it's an artifact of this bottle having been half full for about 16 months. There's also a little bit of mineral, but not very much. It certainly isn't as full as Booker's Shiny Barrel though. The balance is very good, but it has that usual Jim Beam problem of not quite having the fullness of flavor I'd like. I get some tartness from the apricot along with vanilla, adding a bit of a floral note. Some of that sour Beam character is identifiable. It's a good palate, but the nose led me to expect greater things. It certainly isn't as hedonistic as expected and it doesn't strike me as super complex either. Maybe that's the usual Beam subtlety at play. F: There's still some spicy peanut and apricot with a dash of woody must, but there isn't a ton of complexity or richness. Gradually, some tartness gets added to the apricot and some floral flavor comes in, helping to show off the remaining vanilla. - Conclusion - This is a really solid bourbon with the standard Beam problem of being overly subtle while not being full enough. It's enjoyable, but nothing I'd go out of my way to track down and there are definitely better offerings for this price. I feel like a lot of the appeal here is coming from the proof. I appreciate a higher proof spirit, but this one seems like it might be over-playing that aspect a bit. Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8 is more complex than this and it also stands up on its underlying flavors better than this, which tastes more like it's being propped up by its ABV. This definitely is more viscous, from its ABV, but it's not really fuller otherwise. Still, I think there's a balance to this that stands up well against the Wild Turkey. Belle Meade Cask Strength Reserve (batch 22) on the other hand shows more maturity, less harshness, and greater complexity. I briefly considered going as low as a 15 for this, but I quickly came back to the 17 to 18 range. Booker's Shiny Barrel is better, but both are in the general ballpark of Wild Turkey Rare Breed. Belle Meade Cask Strength Reserve (batch 22) also strikes me as an improvement over this, so there's no way I'm going as high as a 19 here. I'm thinking a 17 to 18. It'll be a 17 because it's just kind of light and young.

I am mainly a subjective “value” reviewer. I must take into account price when reviewing any whiskey. I believe most of us this do this anyway and to deny it wouldn’t be reflective of the majority. As in most things, when something is relatively expensive, hopes are high for the product. So I have no one to blame but myself for the expectations of this whiskey. Whiskey doesn’t follow you get what you pay for....it follows, “you pay for the ability to get it” - meaning the price is based on availability and not quality . The price, the clout, the story and the packaging over promise on this pour. Perhaps the experience will be better served with more time. Response to the comment below: peanut brittle cooked in diluted nail polish, is the most “unique” prominent note, with weak red fruits opening up more and more as the bottle diminishes, or if water is added. The score is still reflective of the experience/price ratio. 5.0 - go out and buy all of the stock you can find. 4.0 - must buy at least one bottle before you die. 3.0 - solid, must try at a bar, or mooch from a friend. 2.0 - didn't like it, you may. 1.0 - you may have the palate of my dog, and he licks his own ass.

Nose - toasted banana, powdered sugar, marshmallow, peanut, dusty corn, cherry, apple, milk chocolate, dulce de leche, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, sweet oak, brown sugar, moderate to high ethanol burn. Taste - apple, cherry, banana, cinnamon, leather, allspice, black pepper, peanut, sour oak, milk chocolate, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, moderate to high alcohol bite, finishing medium short with peanut, banana, leather, and sour oak flavors. It’s been a while since I’ve had a Beam product. I missed that peanuty goodness. The nose is really nice. Something like a mix between bananas foster and funnel cake with baked cinnamon covered apples on top. The palate is solid but not quite as good. The peanut note is strong, with equally strong baking spices, chocolate and disappointingly, some sour oak flavors as well. Overall, this is good bourbon. If the flavors were more well integrated, it could be great bourbon. Poured next to my Beaten Biscuits batch, the nose is better on this one, but the palate is markedly inferior. The Beaten Biscuits’ profile is much thicker and less youthful. A big thank you to @ContemplativeFox for providing the generous sample!

This is a well-rounded bourbon with light rye notes, red fruit, plenty of spice, some wood, and a nice almond backing (though not an incredibly strong one) that blends a tad into marzipan. Booker's Kitchen Table has more of an alcohol flavor and licorice, which brings out its own sweetness to be fair. This might have a little bit more youth to its flavor, but it also has added complexity with a nice almond richness that come sour more with water and leaves a nice finish. Booker's Shiny Barrel has a substantial amount of additional toffee with toasted almond and also some nice licorice that this can't catch up to. This is very good, but Shiny Barrel is better. This is different from Kitchen Table, bit the quality is comparable. It's a tough call between the two because although I like this's nutty sweetness, its younger more mineral and rye notes are a bit disappointing. Belle Meade Cask Strength is also right in the appropriate range and is suitably complex. I might actually place the Belle Meade a little above this, up with the Shiny Barrel.

I have had this one for a bit and just realized I never added a review so let's correct that oversight! Booker's certainly has curb appeal in the wooden box with clear facing. The wax and seal add a little flare, but it is what is inside that counts so let's go. Nose is nice with a maple syrup backbone and brown sugar highlights. First sip packs a punch declaring its 120+ proof with a heavy cinnamon heat. Brown sugar and vanilla seep out of the edges of the heat and maybe a touch of pecan pie peeks through. Let me say this dram is not for the faint of heart. It packs a punch and I wouldn't call you out for adding a bit of ice. Overall this one is flavor and fire packed!

This batch was the one that I had the highest hopes in but as most bourbon dreams go reality did not measure up. Don't get me wrong, this is a unique tasting bookers batch. It's sweet but like brown sugar soaked in rubbing alcohol. there's also a slight artificial sweetener note. I'm glad that I finally opened this bottle and removed the myth that surrounded it. Would I have liked beaten biscuits more? Maybe but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't live up to its hype either. Nothing really does in the end