Wow, a bottle of Booker's in Ohio? Maybe things really are changing... Or not. $10 over MSRP secured this bottle, which, although infuriating, isn't as high a markup as almost most other allocated bottles (which seem like most bottles in this state), and it's already hard to find Booker's as it is, even in other states. Jim Beam really should produce more of this, but then it wouldn't quite be the Booker's experience. However, if it weren't for my already strong connection to the Beam brand, I'd write this off as a near impossible-to-acquire "Buffalo Trace" type sales gimmick. Still, I've always thought Booker's to be the ultimate "concentrated" bourbon, giving the most flavor for quite the mild amount of total aging. A particular distillery in Newport, KY seems to be the craft equivalent of this, the grandchild to what Booker's has mastered over the many years of their similar, yet noticeably different batch blends. I've always loved the stories that accompany each batch, but I especially love the simplicity and family ties that this particular batch cites, while still exciting me for classic Booker's, cask-strength, concentrated whiskey flavors. The batch notes mention one of the darkest colors in a Booker's batch (if not the darkest, it wasn't specifically spelled out), and I must agree that the deep burnt sienna reflects the brand line quite well, and is slightly darker than some other memorable batches. The nose is not as powerful as the ABV would have you suspect, but has prominent notes of a salty, briny savoriness; reminds me greatly of the country hams Booker Noe is known to mention. Beneath this there is the familiar tobacco that Booker's is known for, with more classic barrel flavors (chocolate, vanilla, and caramel, in that order, for this case) finishing it off. The body starts off light, but also delivers flavors of saltiness from before, albeit not as focused. Chocolate and toffee spin up after this, with the spicy body beginning to really burn up the palate and gums shortly afterwards. The finish is certainly hot, and even a bit dry, and although it's iconic for the Booker's brand, is honestly a little light and flat for the usual expectations. A small amount of nuttiness and an even smaller note of cinnamon both arise after a few more sips and some development time. Ah, Booker's. I said it up front and it's almost entirely proven after this batch: although expectations were technically met here, at the end of the day it's an overpriced, underproduced bourbon that, with just a bit of research, can be rivaled without breaking the bank. The stories are fun, the box is a great decoration, and the over-specificity of the blending percentages are all very unique, but those are all pieces that should be part of competitive marketing, whereas with this brand, it continuously feels like these are all costs that are passed along to the customer in a fairly unfair manner, instead of just letting the whiskey speak for itself. If you've not had a bottle of Booker's before, I would without a doubt recommend you go for it (at MSRP, of course), especially because the differences between each batch are usually very minute. However, it you've had one or two and are chasing the single barrel spread on your shelf, I would choose a different, more affordable and available brand to chase.