| |
Type | Bourbon whiskey |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Beam Suntory |
Country of origin | Kentucky, United States |
Introduced | 1988 |
Alcohol by volume | 60.5–65.30% |
Proof (US) | 121–130.6 |
Related products | Jim 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]
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 |
2023-03 "Mighty Fine Batch" | 7 years 1 months 10 days | 126.6 |
2023-04 "Storyteller Batch" | 7 years 2 months 29 days | 127.8 |
2024-01 "Springfield Batch" | 7 years 7 months 8 days | 124.5 |
2024-02 "Beam House Batch" | 7 years 2 months 29 days | 127.8 |
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 |
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]
Bourbon whiskey is a type of barrel-aged American whiskey made primarily from corn (maize). The name derives from the French House of Bourbon, although the precise source of inspiration is uncertain; contenders include Bourbon County, Kentucky, and Bourbon Street in New Orleans, both of which are named after the House of Bourbon. The name bourbon might not have been used until the 1850s, and the association with Bourbon County was not evident until the 1870s.
Rye whiskey can refer to two different, but related, types of whiskey:
Jack Daniel's is a brand of Tennessee whiskey. It is produced in Lynchburg, Tennessee, by the Jack Daniel Distillery, which has been owned by the Brown–Forman Corporation since 1956.
Maker's Mark is a small-batch bourbon whisky produced in Loretto, Kentucky, by Beam Suntory. It is bottled at 90 U.S. proof and sold in squarish bottles sealed with red wax. The distillery offers tours, and is part of the American Whiskey Trail and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Jim Beam is an American brand of bourbon whiskey produced in Clermont, Kentucky, by Beam Suntory. It is one of the best-selling brands of bourbon in the world. Since 1795, seven generations of the Beam family have been involved in whiskey production for the company that produces the brand. The brand name became "Jim Beam" in 1943 in honor of James B. Beam, who rebuilt the business after Prohibition ended. Previously produced by the Beam family and later owned by the Fortune Brands holding company, the brand was purchased by Suntory Holdings in 2014.
Evan Williams is a brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky, by the Heaven Hill company. The product is aged for a minimum of four years. It has been ranked as one of the world's best selling whiskey brands.
Woodford Reserve is a brand of premium small batch Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced in Woodford County, Kentucky, by the Brown-Forman Corporation. It is made from a mixture of copper pot still spirits produced at the company's Woodford Reserve Distillery, and column still spirits from the Brown Forman Distillery in Shively, Kentucky. Each 45.2% alcohol by volume bottle bears a unique batch and bottle number. The brand was introduced in 1996. Domestic sales of Woodford Reserve surpassed one million cases in 2021.
Eagle Rare is a brand of bourbon whiskey distilled and distributed by the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Eagle Rare is 90 proof bourbon, aged for either 10 or 17 years, depending on the variety. It was introduced in 1975 and is distilled in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Knob Creek is an American brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced by Beam Suntory at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky. It is one of the four Jim Beam small batch bourbon brands targeted for the high-end liquor market. Its siblings in the line are Booker's, Baker's, and Basil Hayden's.
Single barrel whiskey is a premium class of whiskey in which each bottle comes from an individual aging barrel, instead of coming from blending together the contents of various barrels to provide uniformity of color and taste. By contrast, some other whiskeys, even ones that are not blends, may be combined from more than one batch, or even from differing years to achieve consistency. The whiskey from each barrel is bottled separately, with each bottle bearing the barrel number and in most cases the dates for the beginning and end of aging. Each barrel is believed to contribute unique characteristics to the finished whiskey.
Alberta Premium is one of the few remaining 100% rye grain rye whiskies produced in North America. The brand is owned by Suntory Global Spirits, an subsidiary of Suntory Holdings of Osaka, Japan.
Midleton Very Rare is a premium Irish whiskey, produced by the Irish Distillers subsidiary of Pernod Ricard at the New Midleton Distillery, in the East Cork town of Midleton, from which it gets its name. A non-age statement whiskey, containing a mix of pot still and grain whiskeys, it is matured for about twelve to twenty years in ex-bourbon American Oak barrels. One of the most expensive whiskeys regularly produced by Irish Distillers, since its launch in 1984, Midleton Very Rare has frequently been the recipient of strong reviews and awards.
Old Overholt is America's oldest continually maintained brand of whiskey. It was founded in West Overton, Pennsylvania, in 1810. Old Overholt is a rye whiskey distilled by A. Overholt & Co., currently a subsidiary of Beam Suntory, which is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings of Osaka, Japan. It is produced at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky. It is one of the most commonly available straight rye whiskies in the United States, where it is available at most liquor stores. It is aged for four years and since early 2020 is non-chill filtered and bottled at 86 proof. A four-year bottled in bond, 100 proof version was released in late 2017. Old Overholt has been called a "foundation stone of American whiskey" because of its long history.
Four Roses is a brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Its Spanish Mission-style distillery was built in 1910 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Old Prentice Distillery. The company's warehouse for aging and bottling operations is in Cox's Creek, Kentucky. The brand and its products have evolved and transformed since the company's founding in the late 19th century, and especially since the firm's acquisition by the Kirin Brewery Company of Japan at the beginning of the 21st century.
Bulleit Bourbon is a brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced at the Bulleit Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky and the Bulleit Distillery in Shelbyville, Kentucky, owned by the Diageo beverage conglomerate. It is characterized by a high rye content for a bourbon and being aged at least six years. It is bottled at 45% abv for the US, Canadian, British, Dutch and Mexican markets. For Australian and Danish markets, it is bottled at 40% abv. It is also sold in Germany, Norway and Sweden.
Small batch whiskey is whiskey produced by mixing the contents of a relatively small number of selected barrels. Small batch whiskeys are commercially positioned for the upper-premium market. The term is most commonly used for American whiskey but is sometimes used for other whiskeys as well. For example, the Bowmore distillery in Islay, Scotland, has produced a single malt Scotch whisky labeled as "small batch".
Willett Distillery Ltd, is a private, family-owned-and-operated company that produces bourbon and rye whiskey. Over the years, the company has bottled whiskeys that range from two years of aging maturity up to 28 years. The company was named Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD) between 1984 and 2012.
Old Taylor Bourbon is a brand of straight bourbon whiskey produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Franklin County, Kentucky, by the Sazerac Company. It was named in honor of the historic distiller Col. Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr.
Suntory Global Spirits, formerly known as Beam Suntory, Inc., is the American subsidiary of the Japanese beverage company Suntory. The company produces alcoholic beverages.
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