Tastes

One of the best I’ve experienced - absolutely delicious. Cherry fruit leather, burnt cedar, toffee, nutmeg, red apple. Balanced by more astringent notes of coriander, licorice. Diverse flavors that blend together incredibly well. Obviously packs a little heat, but for the proof, it’s super smooth from sip to finish. First pour of GTS I’ve had - this really lived up to the hype for me.

Tasted in the early days of autumn, which was perfect timing - this bourbon screams "autumn in Kentucky" Heavy oak, granny smith candy apples, dry roasted peanuts, churros, vanilla ice cream, tobacco. Big apple pie energy tempered by a healthy hit of dry oak. Thick and chewy viscosity carries an honest spicy burn - it tastes it's proof for sure - but very mild on the ethanol. Dry, lingering finish. Tasted side-by-side with Country Ham, Beaten Biscuits, and Boston Batch. This one is the best of the four in my opinion. The flavor profile is very unique, and despite a degree of family resemblance to other Booker’s, I really haven’t had anything like it. One of my favorites.

Batch 20-03, 112 proof Vanilla bean, orange marmalade, chipotle peppers, healthy dose of smoke and oak Very smooth for the proof, balanced from sip to finish, moderate burn A great high proof option in this price bracket; relatively bold and complex despite its smoothness

Banana bread, mandarin orange, green apple, cherry cough syrup, cherrywood. Moderate punch up front followed by a nice lingering burn. For the price, it has more complexity and a better finish than many of its competitors. But I’m generally going to reach for Old Forester’s higher proof offerings

Vanilla caramel chews, stroopwafel, custard, burnt brown sugar, maraschino cherry, char. The predominantly sweet profile is tempered by a moderate oak backdrop and a hell of a hit of spice and booze on the initial sip. Dies down moderately quickly and then slowly culminates with the aforementioned sweet flavors towards a prolonged burn. Delicious! This is a big, bold bourbon that is simultaneously very well balanced. Amongst the best I’ve had.

Fruitcake, banana pudding, baking spices, milk chocolate, oak Despite the sweet notes present here, a spicy oak undercurrent keeps it in check. Heat is well balanced from initial sip to finish. Big Christmas energy. Not my favorite bottle in the ~$60 range, but I can see myself reaching for it come December.