Bookers Single Barrel Bourbon
Age: 6-8
Wow.
From Wikipedia –
“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 strengthbourbon. It was personally selected from barrels by Jim Beam‘s grandson, the late distiller emeritus Booker Noe. Noe originally bottled this straight-from-the-barrel bourbon as gifts to close friends and family, but eventually made it available to the general public, starting in 1992. Each barrel of Booker’s bourbon was hand-selected by Noe and was aged at the center of the rackhouse, where the company says that the temperature and humidity are the most favorable for fine bourbons. 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. 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.”
This is a phenomenal bourbon.
I think it’s the slight sweetness that has drawn me to the Bourbon Whiskeys. If you had asked me a couple of years ago if I would be drinking them I would have likely answered with a resounding no! But in the last couple of years, I have started getting into my Whisk(e)ys, headed towards the Rye and now also find myself drinking a lot of Bourbon.
The Bookers Single Barrel is great. Because it is cask strength, you can sip it straight and get the alcohol burn that some of us actually enjoy, or water it down just a tiny bit and release some of the more intricate flavours. I tend to do exactly that – start with a sip, then add a little water. The best of both worlds!
Taste wise – all the normals – tobacco, tannins a bit of spice and fruit. Just done so well!
