Booker's Bourbon Batch 2018-03 "Kentucky Chew"

Tart, hot; spicy nose. Smooth aftertaste

hot but sweet

I don't give 5's soooo here we are. The taste is reminiscent of a fresh cigar or that favorite leather jacket that your dog decided to make his new chew toy. I also seem to get a slight nuttiness mixed with the tobacco. Sweet/Spiced nose with Vanilla. Wish the finish lingered longer though. Chew on my friends if you get the chance. Chew on.

Spicy and licorice for sure. Vanilla. Oak and oatmeal. A bit young for Booker’s. An interesting ride, but missing the profile I remember from my “first favorite” top shelf bourbon.

I have yet to have a Booker's batch that disappoints. This is as good as any I have ever had. In the absence of a side-by-side comparison, it's difficult to peg this one on the list. However, I don' think it unreasonable to say that this could be the best. It certainly holds true to the Booker's name. Nose: Heavy caramel and roasted nut. Also vanilla and a trace of toffee. Distinctly oaky. Palate: More oak, caramel, vanilla. The nut note here comes across as peanut, something I often get with Beam products. Slight hint of citrus, as well as some barrel smoke, and maybe even some cocoa. Finish: One of the longest finishers, due in not small-part to the 63.35% ABV. Starts off with a caramel sweetness that transitions into spiciness and a little bit of smoke it fades away. The alcohol burn is formidable but still amazingly drinkable, even without water. I can always count on Booker's to come through. Kentucky Chew is damn fine even when compared with its predecessors. I used to buy these for $55, as recently as a year and a half ago. More recently, I've only seen Booker's at $90. I got this one at $75. Relatively speaking, this one is a steal. Maybe $55 really was a steal, because I would happily spend $75 on a bottle of this quality again. Well done Beam. This is a truly impressive bourbon.