Booker's Bourbon Batch 2024-04 "Jimmy's Batch"

I have an extremely turbulent relationship with Booker's. I know a lot of the bourbon fans on here live for the high proof stuff. They want to feel the burn. And yet others add just a pip or two of water to open up the taste. But I'm neither of these things. Because I don't like my whisk(e)y to taste like burning and I insist on testing and reviewing everything neat, through a Glencairn. Why do I keep buying these bottles? I guess it's sort of like a moth to a flame... Sweet and spicy on the nose but heavy ethanol due to its fire-breathing 125.8 proof. Vanilla, honey and some charred oak with enough baking spices to tickle your nose some. Definitely smells like its going to be a hot one. The front of the palate actually begins innocently enough with some sweet viscous honey, brown sugar and vanilla. But midway through the taste, it is blown wide open with proof. Baking spices like cinnamon really create quite an intense tingling to the sides of your mouth and tongue and the proof has a bit of a drying effect, leaving an almost powdery mouthfeel. The finish is predominately spicy and dry but you do get a little bit of that sweetness melting away right at the beginning of the finish. If you breathe through your mouth, you can actually catch that sweet note lingering. But mostly there's charred oak barrel, tingly cinnamon and tannic black tea. After 2024-01 "Springfield Batch", which I expected to blow my face off but pleasantly didn't: I was hoping for more of the same with "Jimmy's Batch". But I can report that indeed, this batch tastes its proof. That is to say, this bourbon is definitely warming from the first taste down to the pit of your belly.

Flavorful, hot and heavy. Deep brown sugar and caramel, not very nutty thank goodness! Very well balanced as far as bookers goes, finish is somewhat plain and short. This one feels like it needs to open up to get better, gets more interesting the longer it gets air time.