4.5 Stars - Excellent; 5 bottles The great American novel. Much ado is made about which books capture the quintessential American spirit in a captivating and original literary form. Is Booker’s the great American bourbon? This is The Catcher in the Rye of bourbon. Instantly enthralling, even to the novice. My first bourbon tasting was at a grocery store over 15 years ago. My naive self did not realize these were all Jim Beam products: Knob Creek, Bakers, Booker’s and more. This was easily the star of the night, even without knowing anything about the proof or price. Fresh boiled peanut, dusty hay barn, seasoned oak, and molasses. The best books stand the test of time. So does Booker’s. This is an excellent bourbon.