Booker's Bourbon

Nose: Vanilla essence, baked apples, orange zest, treacle (almost cola-like), floral notes. Some warm cooking spices - cumin, cardamon, turmeric. Berries, fresh leather - like the smell of a leather coat shop. Deep down there is some oak and an aniseed scent. Palate: A spicy-sweet arrival with toffee, allspice, ginger, sweet chili and lime essence. Aniseed again (hmmm, how much rye is in this?). 90% chocolate with orange oil, a sweet and spicy baked custard served with strongly brewed English breakfast tea. Licorice, treacle tart, and cinnamon. Very complex. Finish: Medium, less length than I'd anticipated, ending with a lightly peppery, spicy-sweet liquorice. Very satisfying at all stages. I got little vanilla from this except on the initial sniff, and the more water you add the more it fades. The official tasting notes bore little resemblance to my experience, however as this is a batch thing that's understandable. It also changes character noticeably as it is diluted, from very spicy down to sweet. Finding the right balance for you is the key here, and it's worth it. I'd strongly encourage anyone tasting this to add water. Tasting it neat will anaesthetise your taste buds and numb your palate for a good 15 minutes. I preferred it cut down to around 46% at which point it's eminently approachable and the sweet part of the character can be explored. The wood influence is very well handled - it's neither spirit nor wood driven, but there is a subtle astringency from the oak tannins that is perfect. I suspect it is one of the factors the warehouse managers look for when selecting the casks for this expression. This is a high-class whiskey, deserving of its reputation, but to tell the truth I almost prefer Baker's Bourbon for its more approachable, unashamed woody character. "Good" : 84/100 (3.75 stars)