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Booker's
TypeBourbon whiskey
ManufacturerBeam Suntory
Country of origin Kentucky, United States
Introduced1988
Alcohol by volume 60.5–65.30%
Proof (US)121–130.6
Related productsJim Beam

Booker's bourbon is one of the small batch bourbons produced by the Jim Beam distillery, which is owned by Beam Suntory (a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings of Osaka, Japan). Having the highest alcohol content of the brands in the Jim Beam "Small Batch Bourbon Collection", it is a cask strength bourbon. Booker's bourbon is aged between six and eight years and is bottled un-cut and without chill filtering at its natural proof between 121 and 130.6.

The brand began as bottlings of bourbon personally selected from barrels by Jim Beam's grandson, the late distiller emeritus Booker Noe.[1] Noe originally bottled his straight-from-the-barrel bourbon as gifts to close friends and family, and launched his selections as a brand available to the general public with a very small (1,000-case) release in 1988.[2] Each barrel of Booker's bourbon was hand-selected by Noe and was aged at the center of the rickhouse, where the company says that the temperature and humidity are the most favorable for fine bourbons.

While it is not necessary to cut the bourbon with water, a splash or two of distilled water is recommended (by Booker Noe) to unlock some of the flavor.[3]

Roundtable Releases

Booker's Roundtable releases are selected by a panel of whiskey writers and the Master Distiller, Fred Noe.[4][5][6][7]

Batch No. Age Proof
C07-B-7 7 years 2 months 130.8
2013-06 7 years 6 months 125.9
2014-06 7 years 2 months 127.7
2015-01 "Big Man, Small Batch" 7 years 2 months 16 Days 128.7
2015-02 "Dot's Batch" 7 years 0 months 18 Days 127.9
2015-03 “The Center Cut” 7 years 2 months 127.2
2015-04 "Oven Buster Batch" 6 years 5 months 20 Days 127.0
2015-05 "Maw Maw's Batch" 6 years 7 months 3 Days 128
2015-06 "Noe Secret" 6 years 8 months 7 Days 128.1
2016-01 "Booker's Bluegrass" 6 years 11 months 127.9
2016-02 "Annis' Answer" 6 years 2 months 1 day 126.7
2016-03 “Toogie's Invitation” 6 years 4 months 129
2016-04 “Bluegill Creek” 6 years 5 months 128
2016-05 “Off Your Rocker” 6 years 7 months 129.7
2016-06 “Noe Hard Times” 6 years 10 months 1 day 127.8
2017-01 “Tommy’s Batch” 6 years 4 months 6 days 128.5
2017-02 "Blue Knights Batch" 6 years 3 months 3 days 127.4
2017-03 “Front Porch Batch” 6 years 5 months 25 days 125.9
2017-04 “Sip Awhile” 6 years 8 months 14 days 128.1
2018-01 “Kathleen's Batch” 6 years 3 months 14 days 127.4
2018-02 “Backyard BBQ” 6 years 2 months 10 days 128.8
2018-03 “Kentucky Chew” 6 years 4 months 12 days 126.7
2018-04 “Kitchen Table” 6 years 8 months 7 days 128.0
2019-01 "Teresa's Batch" 6 years 3 months 1 day 125.9
2019-02 "Shiny Barrel Batch" 6 years 5 months 1 day 124
2019-03 "Booker's Country Ham" 6 years 4 months 2 days 124.7
2019-04 "Beaten Biscuits" 6 years 6 months 19 days 126.1
2020-01 "Granny's Batch" 6 years 4 months 21 days 126.4
2020-02 "Boston Batch" 6 years 3 months 10 days 126.5
2020-03 "Pigskin Batch" 6 years 7 months 7 days 127.3
2020-04 "Noe Strangers Batch" Scheduled but not released (See 2021–04)
2021-01 "Donahoe's Batch" 6 years 11 months 4 days 125.3
2021-02 "Tagalong Batch" 6 years 5 months 0 days 127.9
2021-03 "Bardstown Batch" 6 years 5 months 0 days 125.5
2021-04 "Noe Strangers Batch" 6 years 6 months 12 days 124.4
2022-01 "Ronnie's Batch" 6 years 11 months 22 days 124.3
2022-02 "The Lumberyard Batch" 7 years 1 months 7 days 124.8
2022-03 "Kentucky Tea Batch" 7 years 4 months 14 days 126.5
2022-04 "Pinkie's Batch" 6 years 10 months 10 days 122.4
2023-01 "Charlie's Batch" 7 years 1 months 8 days 126.6
2023-02 "Apprentice Batch" 7 years 1 months 2 days 125.5

Limited Edition Releases

In February 2014, Jim Beam announced that a limited edition Booker's 25th Anniversary Bourbon would be released. Booker's Batch 2014-01 is a blend of bourbons aged 10 years and 3 months, bottled at 130.8 proof, with a MSRP of $100.[8] Only about 1000 cases of the special edition were released. Each bottle of Booker's 25th is topped with a special rose gold wax and is packaged in unique wooden boxes. Per Fred Noe, Booker's son and current Jim Beam Master Distiller, "These barrels were laid down in January 2003. Dad passed in February 2004, so I guess essentially you could say that these are some of the last barrels that dad produced before he passed away."[9]

In February 2016, Jim Beam announced that a limited edition Booker's Rye would be released. Batch 2016-LE "Big Time Batch" was released in June 2016 and was aged 13 years, 1 month, and 12 days. This Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey was bottled at 136.2 proof and carried a MSRP of $299.[10] A special green wax topped the bottles while a green and gold label adorned the front. The Limited Edition stickers were hand numbered.

In December 2018, Jim Beam announced that a limited edition Booker's 30th Anniversary Bourbon would be released. It is a blend of 70% 9 year old whiskey and 30% 16 year old whiskey, bottled at 125.8 proof, with a MSRP of $199.[11] Each bottle of Booker's 30th Anniversary is topped with a special silver wax and packaged in unique boxes made of reclaimed wood from Jim Beam's post-prohibition Warehouse E. Booker's 30th Anniversary is unique in that master distiller Fred Noe made almost all of the decisions for this bottling, instead of using the Roundtable committee.[12]

Name/Batch No. Age Proof Wax
2014-01 "Booker's 25th Anniversary" 10 years 3 months 130.8 Rose Gold
2016-LE "Big Time Batch" Rye 13 years 1 month 12 days 136.2 Green
Booker's 30th Anniversary 16 years & 9 years 125.8 Silver
Booker's Second Chance Batch 7 years 6 months 17 days 123.6 Blue

Ratings and reviews

Booker's has won some tasting accolades, including a score of 95 from Wine Enthusiast in 2014. In Fall 2014, ratings aggregator Proof66 put Booker's in the Top 90th percentile of all whiskies.[3] In 2017, Food & Wine Magazine named Booker's #2 in its list of “The 25 Most Important Bourbons Ever Made.” [13]

Food critic Morgan Murphy said "The dark reddish brown liquid packs a serious punch with its high proof. But the robust, sweet, smooth flavor and cedar notes makes Booker's a favorite."[14]

In December 2016, citing scarcity and demand, Beam Suntory announced a reduction in new batch releases and a large increase in the recommended retail price that would take effect in 2017.[15] The price hike upset longtime fans of the brand, attracted criticism in whiskey news media and on social media.[16] In January 2017, the company changed course and announced the price increase would instead take place over the course of several years.[17]

References

  1. ^ Waymack, Mark H.; Harris, James F. (1995). The Book of Classic American Whiskeys. pp. 116–117. ISBN 0812693051. OL 784496M.
  2. ^ Pacult, F. Paul (15 August 2003). American Still Life: The Jim Beam Story and the Making of the World's #1 Bourbon. ISBN 978-0471444077.
  3. ^ a b "Proof66 Product Information Page--Booker's Bourbon;". www.proof66.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-02. Retrieved 2014-09-17.
  4. ^ Blake (July 2, 2015). "Booker's Roundtable Cheat Sheet". Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  5. ^ Chuck Cowdery (February 12, 2015). "More on How Booker's Bourbon Is Made". Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  6. ^ G. Clay Whittaker (December 6, 2017). "The 10 Best Bourbons to Drink Right Now".
  7. ^ "Booker's Bourbon | Batches". www.bookersbourbon.com. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  8. ^ "Booker's 25th Anniversary Review | Breaking Bourbon". www.breakingbourbon.com. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
  9. ^ Eidson, Bob (2014-02-07). "Booker's Limited Release". The Bourbon Review. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
  10. ^ Blake (May 13, 2016). "An Inside Look At The New Booker's Rye". Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  11. ^ Inc, Beam Suntory. "Booker's® Bourbon Celebrates Three Decades With The Release Of Booker's® 30th Anniversary Bourbon". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2019-08-21. {{cite press release}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ Whittaker, G. Clay (2018-12-10). "Booker's 30th Anniversary Bourbon: Everything You Need to Know". The Bourbon Review. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
  13. ^ "The 25 Most Important Bourbons Ever Made". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  14. ^ Murphy, Morgan (2014). Southern Living Bourbon & Bacon: The Ultimate Guide to the South's Favorite Foods. Oxmoor House. ISBN 978-0848743161.
  15. ^ "Beam Suntory Raising Price, Limiting Releases of Booker's Bourbon | WhiskyCast". whiskycast.com. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  16. ^ "Did Booker's Bourbon Just Get $40 Better? | Breaking Bourbon". www.breakingbourbon.com. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  17. ^ Swartz, Kyle (2017-01-03). "Beam Suntory Delays Price Hike On Booker's Bourbon". Beverage Dynamics. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
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