Booker's Bourbon Batch 2016-02 "Annis' Answer"

Overall I’m a big fan of Bookers and the majority of batches I find to be very good and this one is no exception. Those nose right off the bat gives you the “classic” bookers peanut brittle. The ethanol in this batch is not overpowering like in some others. The tartness is their and some fresh fruit which I don’t normally pick up on. Palate has dark cherries leather and tobacco. This is a rich rich pour. The fruit comes back in with an oaky dry finish. Sitting and sipping on this a little longer and this is definitely one of the better batches I’ve had. Sometimes you need a couple drops of water but this batch doesn’t get too crazy even at 63% abv. Very enjoyable.

Spicy, vanilla, with a big kentucky hug initially

Nose: Classic bourbon - if you've had any of the Booker's or Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserves, you know what direction this goes. Heavier on the char, oak, and dark brown sugar, there's some vanilla going on as well. Plenty of berries and fruit - think blackberries, borderline over-ripe strawberries, banana, etc. Dusty, well-work leather - I'm reminded of an old baseball glove my dad had. The ethanol really helps this jump out and presents very intense and "hot", even on the nose. Dark chocolate, roasted nuts, and campfire smoke. Some buried rye notes - though subtle, they are present. Palate: Just a big wall of oak, char, tannin, nearly-burned caramel, and potent vanilla extract. The high proof and oil content are evident, which alongside the tannin really helps this cling and evolve. This is absolutely dusty corn sweet, but heads in the direction of being a little drier. Again, dark chocolate, salted roasted nuts, and well worn leather are all here. Tangy, lactic dairy - buttermilk gets close. Black pepper, smoked paprika, and chipotle powder can be found, as well as a little rosemary and dill. The heat almost reminds me of crushed garlic and horseradish. Still some fruit, though quite subdued. Medium mouthfeel. Mid and upper palate heavy, though some of the barrel notes help fill in the bottom end. Finish: Big hit of ethanol, wintergreen, and tannin taste/texture. The aforementioned oil content means this hangs out for a minute. Olives show up - green ones with pimento, but also canned black ones. Lemon oil, rosemary, thyme - I do a baked salmon that I'm reminded of here. Charred oak and vanilla take center stage while things start to calm down. Sweetness is present, but not a driving force. Cocoa powder. Things coast out on char, smoke, ethanol, and dusty corn sweetness. Long finish. Other notes: I went to a new liquor store and asked for a bottle of Booker's. I didn't realize that I would be getting the second-ever edition of the stuff. A special bottle to me, as it shows what they were toying with early on. This provides an excellent point of comparison for later editions, as well. This is certainly not for everybody - you'd need to be a fan of high proof Beam bourbons to buy this particular bottle, as relatively it's far less refined and "accessible" compared to later releases. That being said, I really like this stuff. Though it doesn't unseat my favorite Booker's of all time (2018-02), it's certainly a worthwhile bottle to pick up. I wouldn't go out of your way for it unless you're dead-set on having every bottle ever, but if you come across one and you're on the fence, do it. It's a fun ride. Due to the limited nature of Booker's releases, it's hard to say I'd have one on-hand at all times, but like most others I'd be glad to have one of these in my cabinet at all times.

If you follow my reviews, you probably know that I am a huge Booker's fan. My infatuation with this line dates back to 2016, when I first grabbed a bottle from this very batch. Back then, it was a $55 bottle, and I could only drink this stuff on the rocks. Boy, have things changed. Let's see just how much they have. Quick stats: This is the second batch of 6 from 2016. Clocks in at 63.35% ABV, aged for 6 years, 2 months, and 1 day. Nose: Heavy caramel and peanut brittle. Vanilla, cola, brown sugar, cocoa, and hazelnut. Cherry emerges after the glass rests for a 10-15 minutes. Some orange peel, as well. The oak and baking spices are monstrous here. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and allspice. It's a potent aroma, but the alcohol is well-hidden. Promising start. Palate: More chewy caramel and peanut brittle. Hot fudge, carrot cake, sweet vanilla, and brown sugar. More of the cherry; it's sort of artificial, almost reminiscent of a Shirley Temple. Plenty of chestnut and oak. A touch of orange peel. And of course, more of those baking spices: cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. Dessert sweetness paired with heavy spice and prominent oak. High-octane and highly-complex. Finish: Black tea and tobacco. Black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Some vanilla and caramel mixed in along the way. Long as they make them. And as hot as they make them too--the finish is not for the faint of heart. But if you handle the heat, it's a hell a way to cap off an unbelievable pour. Another 5-star performance from the Booker's line. I don't know what else to say. Even hiked up from $55 to $85 after all these years, I'd say this was well worth the cost. I opened it a couple months ago, and while it was good then, it has become simply incredible with some oxidation. My ability to withstand the heat allows me to appreciate this infinitely more than I could back in 2016. I think there are two overarching Booker's flavor profiles/mouth feels. There are the moist, syrupy bottlings, and there the dry, spicy, and woody expressions. Annis' Answer definitely abides by the rule of the latter. Though, I'd argue that it's the sweetest of those that I've tried, pulling it closer to the middle of the spectrum. If you're looking for a more recent point of comparison for the finish, think Kentucky Chew from 2018. It's an aromatic flavor-bomb with an absolute scorcher of a finish. It offers everything I love about the Booker's line, with a presentation that is uniquely its own. If you're lucky enough to stumble upon one of these here in 2020, I highly recommend that you pony up and pull the trigger. Phenomenal stuff.