For Booker’s Bourbon followers, 2022 was a 12 months of each creativity and consistency, no less than for the primary three releases. A lineup of “Ronnie’s Batch,” “The Lumberyard Batch,” and “Kentucky Tea” provides loads of traditional Beam notes with a pair curve ball tasting notes thrown in. (Stewed tomatoes, anybody?) And whereas there was little bit of variation amongst these releases, all three finally stood on their very own as satisfying (although not fairly superlative) barrel-proof sippers.
Let’s see if the 12 months’s fourth and ultimate launch — dubbed “Pinkie’s Batch” — punches at that stage.
First, how about that title? The backstory for a Booker’s launch moniker has change into virtually as attention-grabbing because the whiskey itself, particularly when it’s named after somebody with Noe household ties. This one is greatest taken instantly from the Beam firm launch notes:
This batch is called in honor of Booker Noe’s dad, the unique Frederick Booker Noe, higher often known as Pinkie to his household and mates. Though nobody is kind of positive the place Pinkie’s nickname got here from, he’s remembered as somebody who all the time adopted his passions. Most individuals thought Pinkie was within the bourbon enterprise, which was assumption to make about somebody within the Noe household, however he really labored because the vp of the native financial institution. That’s to not say he didn’t take pleasure in ingesting bourbon – he really was a giant fan – however being part of the bourbon enterprise wasn’t his factor.
A non-whiskey making Noe looks like a uncommon sight certainly.
This 122.4 proof batch was aged 6 years, 10 months, and 10 days, making it the youngest launch for 2022. Of these 4 batches, it’s additionally the bottom proof. Let’s dive in.
The nostril has some hallmark Booker’s notes. It’s spicy and smokey, with hints of cinnamon and crème brulée. There are notes of BBQ smoked wooden, although not as far into that territory as, say, “Ronnie’s Batch.” It’s extra peppery than really smoky, with a little bit of leather-based thrown in. There’s a number of oak on the nostril as properly, however towards the tip, it’s a deeper, darker model of that traditional Beam nuttiness. Really, this noses one step past toasted nuts, perhaps calmly charred. (That’s not a nasty factor, by the way in which; it’s not as far as to be acrid.) The nostril opens up within the glass over time and evolves over the course of sipping in a somewhat nice trend.
On the tongue, there’s a right away punch of sweetness and wealthy vanilla bean, although it’s not as advanced out of the gate as another latest Booker’s batches; there isn’t as pronounced a fruity observe as I hoped for. However what this does, it does properly: A traditional interaction of caramel, oak, praline, and toasted nuts, with that sturdy vanilla observe all through. It takes a second to settle in, however there’s a little bit of fruit — principally inexperienced and crimson apple — in addition to some mint that helps stability the sweetness a bit. One thing about this jogs my memory of a mint julep: candy and minty.
The mint shines via on the end right here, because the sweetness provides approach to a wintergreen kind of cooling. It’s a pleasant, medium end that doesn’t drop off too abruptly and leaves the palate a bit refreshed. Although “Pinkie’s Batch” lacks the pure complexity of another latest Booker’s batches, the end might be the very best a part of this pour. There’s additionally a buttery observe to this whiskey that helps issues throughout the palate and all the way in which down.
Booker’s threw some welcome curve balls our manner in 2022, and whereas “Pinkie’s Batch” isn’t terribly adventurous, this one is again to traditional roots. I needed it had a bit extra complexity in locations, and I’m nonetheless ready for that uncommon standout batch to actually elevate the ingesting expertise, as we all know Booker’s Bourbon is sometimes able to.
In the end, 2022’s ultimate batch completed what Booker’s so usually does: Flavorful, full-bodied bourbon that isn’t all that involved about pulling a punch.
122.4 proof.
A- / $90 / bookersbourbon.com
Booker’s Bourbon “Pinkie’s Batch” 2022-04
$90
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