Color: Medium copper-amber Nose: Very "Booker's"... Molasses, leather, maybe date or fig. Palate: (Drank with a large ice ball) as with pretty much every Booker's batch I've had, I'm hit with a massive spice assault on the first sip. Surprisingly mild chest hug, considering the proof. This is one of those pours whose palate and nose virtually mirror each other. I'm getting the date/fig note as well as the molasses with some oak char thrown in. Just a bit sweet, but more more spicy than anything. As I get to the bottom of the glass, that Beam "peanut" starts to come through. Finish: Medium with spices and peanut dominating things. Final Thoughts: Hmmmm. I think this "By The Pond" will go down as a decent but unremarkable batch. It's good... maybe subsequent pours will reveal more(?). If I could, I'd give it 3.85 stars. But, since I can't, I felt rounding-up was appropriate. So, after its maiden voyage, it gets a respectable 4.0 stars from me. I actually have the previous two batches on-hand — which is unheard of over here(!). I may need to put all three up against each other. The last batch to have made an immediate impression on me was the "Mater Distiller's Batch" from last year. We'll see....
Booker's Bourbon Batch 2025-02 "By the Pond Batch"
About this bottle
"By the Pond" Batch is the second US batch release from Booker's for 2025. The batch is named for Booker Noe's beloved backyard pond which his son Fred Noe — 7th Generation Master Distiller — and a few of his friends dug out and filled with fresh water and fish. This batch was made on seven different production dates and stored in eight different warehouses. Aged for 7 years, 1 months, and 20 days, this was bottled uncut and unfiltered at 126.5 proof (63.25% ABV). Available nationwide beginning July 2025. (SRP $99.99)
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 6 parsed reviews.
Nice oak, light maple syrup, pecan roll, raisin, fennel leaf, stewed stone fruit, rich and full bodied with more baked fruits, nuts, and oak on the finish. It’s been years since I’ve had Booker’s, and now I’m wondering why I waited so long.
Strong cola and dark bread note on the nose. Curious rye vegetal note also hiding in the nose. The cola and bread come through on the palate. The finish is very spicy and mostly at the front of the palate.
Love it! I like this one almost as much as 2025-01 (Barry’s Batch) Nose - honey, oak, dried fruit Palate - cherry cola and cinnamon Finish - long and bold
Drinks not as hot as its’ proof. Pretty tasty overall, not bad
One of the best batches in recent years
Tastes like this
Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.
