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

Back with another Booker’s. If you read my reviews, you know I’m a fan. 2023 Batch 4. 63.90% ABV. 7 Years, 2 Months, 29 Days. Let’s check it out. Nose: Brown sugar and cocoa. Black pepper. Orange peel and ginger. Clove, nutmeg, and oak. Sawdust. Gala apple. Cola. Irish soda bread. Rye spice. Raisin, date, and fig. Palate: Brown sugar and chewy caramel. Gala apple/caramelized apple. Cherry. Dried apricot. Peanut brittle. Black tea. Vanilla and toffee. Nougat. Milk chocolate. Allspice, clove, nutmeg, black pepper, and oak. Finish: Peanut brittle and caramel. Cinnamon. Red hot tamale. Ginger, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. Long as they make them. This is a spice bomb. The black tea and tobacco notes are extremely prominent here. I really love the Booker’s profile that offers the smoked meat notes—this is not of those. It fits more into the framework of say, the Kentucky Chew, Kitchen Table,and Shiny Batch from the late 2010s. I’ve found that less and less of the recent batches drink this way, and this gave me some well-timed nostalgia. The price tag is a little higher than it was during the days of the aforementioned batches. At $110, I feel that what I’m paying is steep but also expected of Booker’s at this point. It was worth it. It’s a fantastic bottle of bourbon and I’m glad to have nabbed one late in the game. 5/5.

Color: Medium Copper-Amber Nose: Familiar Booker's High-Proof nose with oak and cinnamon red hots. Palate: First tiny sip (neat) greeted me with a sinus-clearing burn. Ha! Definitely going to tame this beast with a large ice ball. Chest hug ensues. First sip with ice added... sweetness, spiciness (but, of course). Fairly balanced between the two... and here comes the walnuts! Always welcome. I really enjoy "nutty" bourbons. I'm getting a lot more, folks, but I just can't articulate what it is. I'm going to put it away and switch to a lower proof bottle. I'll circle back to it tomorrow. Profiles tend to develop and transform over time for my palate — and this one will require time for me to get a handle on it. Suffice to say, this is a "Good" higher-proof pour. Finish: Long with tongue-tingling spice and more oak. Interesting... I looked back at my review of "Charlie's Batch", and that one really came through loud and clear for me. It knocked my socks off right out of the gate. Perhaps, I might not like this one as much? We'll see....

NEAT NOSE - While I wouldn’t describe the nose as rich, it is very perfumey. The nose is actually quite deceptive in reference to the proof of this bottle. The nose is a perfect amalgamation of caramel, oak, and vanilla. None of the notes on the nose outshines one another. They all come together perfectly to create this fantastic nose. PALATE - The palate is not as balanced as the nose, only because the oak comes through much more on the palate than the nose would suggest. Supporting the very apparent oak notes are notes of dark brown sugar with a hint of vanilla. Mouthfeel is pretty basic in my opinion. It doesn’t necessily coat the palate or stand out as being viscous. FINISH - Long! The finish goes on for quite a while! BUY? - This is my first Booker’s batch and I’d say it’s a buy. I wouldn’t necessarily back this up at its price point, but I will look forward to future batches and recommend this bottle.

Tasted in a bar from wide glass so take review lightly (photo relevant)* Nose: hard to get in the glass provided but... Caramel, vanilla apple, cherry, blackberry pie filling, dusty musk fruity and sweet. Taste: cherry, cacao, waxy nuttyness oak, with a long warm finish. A great dessert pour, warm, lingering and sweet. Its your first post summer visit to your Grandma's and she has her famous fruit pie with a side of ice cream ready and waiting mixing with the dust from the dirt road you took there.

Roasted nutty and baking caramel nose with a bunrt red apple, caramel, sweet vanilla, and light brown sugar taste. Long charred red apple and raw vanilla barrel finish. I guess after drinking whiskey/whisky as long as I have, it makes amazing products look bot as impressive while still being impressive. This is a good bourbon. I have had better Booker's products, though. Can't wait to try 2024 batches.

Such a great Bookers bottle. May be better than C921 whixh is a personal favorite. Completely coats the mouth, not overly proofy like some bookers come off. Surprising floral and dare i say some honey notes. Those typical Bookers notes come theough but far less prevalent. Buy this and back up as its what a Bookers should be. Could write more and likely will.