Booker's Bourbon

Man this bourbon is STRONG. It's really kind of my fault though - I insist to drink every whiskey and bourbon neat, cask strength or not. Many, especially Booker's; would very likely benefit from a drop or two of water but my stubbornness won't allow it. I want to taste every whiskey and bourbon the same way. The nose on Booker's is a good indicator of the heat that's to come. Ethanol fills your nose along with some cocoa powder and leather. The predominant taste here is tongue prickling heat. A little bit of cocoa opens for a wallop of spicy cinnamon . There's a very faint underlying cherry sweetness during the proof fueled mouth fire of a taste. The finish starts hot and tapers down to some rye spice and leather. I'm all for a good cask strength bourbon but man, this stuff is taking that to the next level. At 120-130 proof, its no wonder the smell and taste is hot through and through. Still, a pretty surprising complexity remains after the heat has gone and makes this an interesting dram. Maybe I'd give it another shot with a drop or two of water.

La puissance est immédiate. Le premier contact est un véritable coup de poing de saveurs riches : du chêne, du caramel brûlé, de la vanille intense et une épice de seigle qui pique agréablement. C'est un profil complexe et en constante évolution. La texture est épaisse, huileuse et très chaleureuse. La finale est longue, chaude et persistante. Les notes de caramel et de chêne restent longtemps, suivies par une sensation épicée qui s'estompe lentement. C'est le genre de finale qui vous laisse un souvenir durable. Le Booker's n'est pas un bourbon pour les débutants. C'est une bête sauvage, puissante et non filtrée, qui exige le respect. Son fort degré d'alcool (62,5%) peut surprendre, mais il est la clé de sa complexité et de sa richesse. C'est un bourbon de dégustation, à savourer lentement et avec respect.

Get ready … cause its coming in Hot! Once you get passed the first sip… this is a good pour. I prefer a neat pour. Hot hug and light on the mouthfull (which is too my liking) …light airy flavors and more flavors on this one. Light fruit, sweet, vanilla cherries. Second sip… just got better ( i may have be better prepared for the heat) more and more flavor.. 3rd sip… dropped a cube in it… softened it up a bit and opened even more fruits, apricot and berries. Kinda had a light wine feel to it. Great for a summer breeze porch sitting evening…just saying. 126 proof… another nice pour.

This is a man’s bourbon and not for the weak. Strap-in, add a little H2O or ice, and here we go. Spices on front, it is really hot and will give you a huge Kentucky-hug. Once thing settle, enjoy the Carmel, vanilla, oak, and cherry… the cherry will show up way way way on the back end. The $100 bourbon is a real treat, but only share with those who can handle it. A new drinker may never come back tot the magic of bourbon if this is their first. For those with experience, this is sublime.

This tasting is for 2021-03 aka The Bardstown Batch. Gotta say I’m disappointed with this Bookers. Nose is nice with a bit of the peanut you’d expect, but the high proof really comes through on the nose. The taste is lackluster. With nothing special to note. The finish is probably the best part…very warming and the ethanol doesn’t come though much so Fri is well for the high 125.5 proof. In the end this is one Bookers I would pass on. Hoping it opens up as this was a fresh crack.

Booker’s Bourbon batch 2021-01 “Donohoe’s Batch” Nose- Vanilla, oak, salted caramel, and spices. Palate- a spicy opening gives way to a smooth finish. Baking spices to start and then a sweet plum. Finish- smooth with a vanilla and plum after taste. Overall- a complex bourbon with a lot going on. A high proof creates an initial burn, but gives way to a multitude of flavors. That said, with everything going on, the flavors compliment each other. Great whiskey!