JoelyO
Booker's Bourbon Batch 2019-02 "Shiny Barrel Batch"
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
October 28, 2021 (edited April 16, 2023)
A big thank you to @ContemplativeFox for this sample dram.
This is one I requested because it sounded good from other reviews.
Appearance: Amber color with medium oiliness. Rings the glass but no real legs.
Nose: Leather, peanut butter, alcohol burn in nose but not too strong as long as you don't stick your nose into the glass. Brown sugar, smoke, orange with clove like grandma used to make around holidays for decor and aroma.
Mouthfeel: Medium fullness, tangy.
Flavor: Peanut butter buddy cookies, brown sugar, vanilla, smoked meat, hot on tongue, spices from all over the place from cinnamon to clove to nutmeg and so on. Pumpkin pie seasoning flavors. Butterscotch, bakery goodies, HOLY CRAP this is good!
This right here, this is my kind of bourbon! I think I found my true love.
Its sweet but its spicy, and there is enough complexity to keep it interesting. Each sip evolves new flavors I love.
Adding a cube: Makes the mouthfeel creamier for sure which I love. I think if there was anything lacking in this pour it was the mouthfeel. I have had creamier and I do prefer that feel, but with a small cube that comes out more.
Flavors come forward with less sweet and more heat for me, which I do not love that much. I prefer the flavor before the cube.
If I had to choose I would keep the original mouthfeel for the sweeter flavor and not use a cube at all.
Conclusion: My ONLY complaint would be that its not creamy enough in the mouthfeel. Especially for the otherwise creamy flavors. Yet, it has a wonderful balance of sweet and spice with a myriad of my favorite flavor notes.
This is a 5 as I must get it in my collection.
Thank you again @ContemplativeFox for this beautiful sample!
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@Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington and @Scott_E Gotta say if this is the case I am okay with that. I would love to taste this again and since this specific one is no more - I welcome any!
@Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington I would have to agree. It’s good but all roughly similar.
I hate to say that all Bookers is pretty much the same to me, and I’ve loved every one but very much like high octane bourbon with a long finish
@ContemplativeFox Oops I did not realize it was limited. Well I will just have to get my hands on a different release and try that one :)
@JoelyO Yep, this has been around half full for over a year and I think it's been open for two. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much, though it's unfortunate that it's a limited release. It seems like this year's Booker's releases are really good though - just different :)
@PBMichiganWolverine pretty sure this bottle from @ContemplativeFox has had plenty of time to get air which maybe has mellowed it. It IS strong, not going to lie but I really loved the flavors. I am with you though the ice did not help. I was of course having a small sample about half the dram so only added a very tiny piece of ice that had previously melted down mostly. I do often over dilute as well. All and all I prefer pours that do not call for any ice or water.
I know I’m against the grain when it comes to Booker’s, but the few times I’ve had it, it always felt like getting hit with a 2x4 oak panel. And then , when adding water or ice, I end up diluting it too much