Apprentice Batch is the second batch of Booker's Bourbon for 2023. This bottling pays homage to Carl Beam, Booker Noe's cousin and mentor with whom Booker worked under shortly after he began his career at Jim Beam Distillery in 1952. Two years later the pair worked together to get a newly acquired distillery in Boston, Kentucky up and running. This distillery would later be renamed as the Booker Noe Distillery. This batch was aged for 7 years, 1 month, and 2 days. Like all Booker's Small Batch Bourbon bottlings, this is uncut and unfiltered with this batch coming in at 125.5 proof. Available as of June 2023 nationwide. (SRP $89.99)
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Showing the most detailed of 14 parsed reviews.
Vanilla and clove notes on the nose (A+ for the aroma. would wear as a cologne.) Smooth mouthfeel, sits in the middle and at the sides of the tongue. Bright citrus flavors hit you first, then it mellows out into a lightly woody/nutty taste. It was somewhat less intense in flavor than expected, but the flavor itself is very good.
Didnt really like this one. It definitely drinks to its 125 proof, mellows out with a bit of water. Definitely get leather on the pallete. Then finish is super long and very bitter. Rather unpleasant. I was disappointed after spending 100 bucks on it. It makes an interesting manhattan.
This may not be the worst bourbon I’ve had, but it is certainly the weirdest. Very light nose. Hot on the palate. Strange tasting finish. As the word gets out, this is one that might sit on shelves. Did any of the Noes try this before it left the distillery?
Vanilla and baked apple/nuts on the nose. It starts with a good bit of heat and is leathery and oaky in the middle. Finishes with a some peppery on the finish and lingers for a little while. Can definitely taste the proof but certainly not overpowering.
Honey, sawdust and vanilla nose with rye, leather and green apple. Palate is creamy and I see the lemon/lime meringue from the review. Caramel apple and oak move in from the sides. Peppery cinnamon candy on the finish.
Complex, citrusy nose. Hints of stone fruit. A little bit of the beam peanut profile sneaking into the background. Viscous, vanilla and caramel palate with a lightly oaked profile. Smooth but lasting finish
8 more reviews were collected for this bottle. The longest ones are shown first.
Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.
