Whiskey_Hound
Booker's Bourbon Batch 2018-04 "Kitchen Table"
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
December 29, 2019 (edited February 5, 2020)
Booker's Kitchen Table. Bottled in 2018; this is the fourth and final batch of the year. Aged 6 years, 8 months, 7 days. Bottled at a whopping 64% ABV. If you've read one of my previous Booker's reviews, you'd know I'm a huge fan. Let's see where this ranks among the better batches.
Nose: Gala apple, toffee, brown sugar, caramel, cocoa. Peanut brittle and peanut butter. New car leather shines through. Some barrel char and some baking spices: Cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. Big oak. In the background, there are some sweet notes of peach and carrot cake. Orange peel and apricot. Ginger, rosemary, allspice, and something akin to sun-dried tomato. Deeply complex but far from overpowering.
Palate: Caramel, cocoa, brown sugar, toffee, fudge, vanilla, butterscotch, and graham cracker. Huge peanut/peanut butter note. Very oaky and maybe even a bit of grass or hay. The barrel char makes this drink like a crispy, charred steak, if that makes any sense. The carrot cake is still there, but now more subtle. Peach as well. Black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove add spice on the back end.
Finish: Spice and oak bomb. Nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon persist from nose to finish. Apricot and orange peel. More peanut/peanut butter. Caramel, cocoa, vanilla, and brown sugar. More spice resurfaces as the long finish finally dissipates.
Another winner. It might not be the first or second best batch of Booker's I've had, but it's less than a step behind. And it's probably got the best nose of any I've had. It's tied for best if not the outright best.
It's a beast of a whiskey, like any other Booker's batch. But it's extremely balanced and very unique, even in this line of titans. It's unfortunate the Booker's has jumped from $55 to $90 in the past 3 years. Still, with a product like this, I'm fully prepared to keep shelling out my hard-earned cash for these releases. 5/5.
90.0
USD
per
Bottle
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@AntonioSchmid Thanks man! Hope you enjoy, and I'm looking forward to seeing some of those reviews!
@AntonioSchmid nice! Enviable lineup
@PBMichiganWolverine JD Sinatra Select Eagle Rare 10 Angel’s Envy Booker’s 18-04 Stagg Jr. (Batch 9)
@AntonioSchmid what else will be in that Jan bourbon lineup?
After reading your review I feel very eager. I’ll host a bourbon tasting on January 18 and this “beast” will be one of the stars. Looking forward to it! Happy new year everyone!!
@SolanaRoots Thanks man! Definitely worth a buy. @PBMichiganWolverine @jonwilkinson7309 when I first started drinking Booker's 3-4 years ago, it was usually with ice as the heat was a bit much for me at; at times far too overpowering. I guess I've just gotten used to it over time. This batch drinks nice and easy, and the Center Cut was easy as they come at CS/BP. I may not be the best person to ask though, as my preferences have become aligned with @Ctrexman's as my tastes have developed. Booker's was the first cask strength whiskey I ever made a part of my rotation, so I'm very comfortable with the spice profile
@jonwilkinson7309 seems as if I need to try the Country Ham one. I found the heat and high proof an issue with the Little Book as well.
Ive had the last two Country ham and Shiny barrel and found both excellent with the nod to sb. Never had an issue with heat drinking neat but I love high proof bourbons. So much sweeter with intense flavor
@SolanaRoots @PBMichiganWolverine Intersting, because I've found they run quite hot too, with the exception of the Country Ham release (2019-03), which was a major departure from the typical Booker's spice and fire.
@PBMichiganWolverine the last pour of Booker’s I had was with a large cube which probably helped tame the ABV. I’m sure @Whiskey_Hound has more insight
@Whiskey_Hound @SolanaRoots do you let these Bookers sit out for a long time or add water? I find all the Booker lines hot —-wondering if neat is not the way to go.
@SolanaRoots you should
Top review! Just saw the latest Booker’s at the local grocer for $61 and was debating whether to acquire a bottle or not. Sounds like maybe I should