Instead, I found myself going back for more and more sips just to capture some additional flavor. I was lucky enough to get to sample a lot of whiskeys this year and narrowing all those drams down to 50 beloved bottles proved to be a little harder than expected. That final barrel is bottled at cask strength, as is. This edition is a mix of whiskeys finished in pear brandy, Jamaican rum, and Sicilian Amaro casks that are then batched. This much-lauded Texas bourbon is the highwater mark of what great whiskey from Texas can be. The amped-up ABVs helped it shine in cocktails and on the rocks while still holding on to that Evan Willams vibe (think approachable, affordable, and very drinkable). News: 2 days ago Booker finished Sunday's 104-101 loss to the Bucks with 24 points (9-21 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 5-9 FT), four rebounds and eight assists over 38 minutes. I vouch for the whole list, top to bottom. And I really got into mixing Manhattans and Sazeracs with this one this year. This could have been this years Port Cask finish, which was my personal favorite from last year. The yeasts at play are delicate fruit, spice essence, and floral essence. The barrels ranged from 12 to 16 years old, making this a fairly old bourbon, all things considered. That makes each release extremely unique and fleeting. But Grannys Batch takes this note back in time for some nostalgic treats from grandmas house. The crystal decanter has two eagles, one as a stopper and one that is blown into the bottom of the bottle. Think a tropical, hazy IPA with clear notes of pineapple, lemon-lime, and maybe a slight hint of savory papaya next to more a-typical bourbon notes of vanilla, holiday spices, and caramel. The best-selling bourbon in the world, ol' white label has held steady through thick and thin times. The nose draws you in with warming eggnog spice, creamy vanilla pudding, rich toffee, mild fruit, and a hint of wet cedar and very muted citrus. These are released three times a year (were tasting the January 2021 release below) and the various expressions have been winning award after award. The nose then leans towards a woody spice matrix of cinnamon sticks soaked in cherry syrup next to a slight note of anise thats more absinthe green than licorice dark. The smell alone tells you to sit down and buckle up! And . Distilled back in the fall of 2009, this barrel-strength bourbon skips the Minnesota rye and instead uses North Dakota wheat with that NoDak barley and Kentucky corn. Booker's Bluegrass. The use of hyperlinks to (any page of) the website of Whiskybase B.V. is only allowed with prior written consent of Whiskybase B.V.. Whiskybase B.V. will not allow any hyperlink to (any page of) her website if the content, image or reputation of the host website is irreconcilable with the name, reputation, services or products of Whiskybase B.V. or the content of this website, in the opinion of Whiskybase B.V. Whiskybase B.V. respects the privacy of all users of this website and ensures that personal information provided to Whiskybase B.V. by email and/or by contact form, will be treated confidentially and in conformity with the Dutch Privacy Law (Wet Bescherming Persoonsgegevens). While others rejoiced to drink bourbon at age 21, Booker was thrilled to start making the stuff. 3. Booker's 23 reviews Wine Spectator-Kentucky, USA- Cinnamon, hot and dusty corn, short snort of vanilla. . We forgive you if you cant keep up (we barely can!). After completing the tasting, I added a few drops of water to my glass. During that time, the barrels spend time in the Buzzards Roost at the top of the rickhouse. Bardstown is doing some of the most interesting blending (and contract distilling) in the game. This is a bowl of stewed apple over vanilla ice cream thats been drizzled with extra caramel. Now that you know the details, here are our rankings for 2020: The worst batch of Bookers this year is still one of the best bourbons on the market. Which brings us to the latest batch hitting store shelves, titled "Bardstown Batch . He was born to bourbon. Says Beam's Fred Noe: "The first batch of Bookers [sic] for 2016 is made up of barrels that were stored in 7 different rack houses. To say this is smooth would be an understatement. This has a mellow nose that ebbs and flows between soft maple syrup cut with cinnamon sticks, a light touch of brioche, new leather gloves, and bruised apples. Extremely well priced and always available, it's one to always have on the shelf. The website of Whiskybase B.V. includes references and/or hyperlinks to third party websites. While the six-year is a great cocktail bourbon and the 12-year is a fine sipper, this Tennessee whiskey is comforting neat, blooms nicely with a little water or on a rock, and will make one hell of a Manhattan. Singed tastebuds aside, Booker's is actually a fairly complex bottle of booze, with nice little notes of coffee you can pick up. Master Distiller Dan McKee personally selects these 20-year-old (at least) barrels from their rickhouses based on, well, excellence. In fact, the rest of this list is the same. Until then, get in on the ground floor right here. The palate takes the apricot and stews it with the spices to create a jammy compote next to an earthy and wet cellar beam dripping with cobwebs as the hibiscus brightens and leads towards a hint of raisin, prune, and white pepper. Its a great, bold whiskey that truly shines when mixed. The Best Rare Bourbons for a Whiskey Drinker's Collection. Top 100 Bourbon of 2023. Their Discovery series continues to wow this year with another homerun whiskey that feels as special as it tastes. You think about it. This is Jack that has an extra layer of refinement while still feeling familiar and welcoming. Create an account and indulge yourself in the world of whisky. Right after that initial taste, my mouth was instantly warmed, as I could feel the heat of the bourbon quickly encompassing every corner of my mouth. I fully admit that I dont always reach for this brand but this bottle made me want to more. Thats a great price for a really solid and unique whiskey. Thats just the nose. The end lingers while it fades through salted caramel apples towards a mellow floral spiciness with a dried reed finish and a touch of vanilla tobacco chew. Some of these bourbons will be easily found at stores, others only surface in Kentucky or their local regions, and some are probably already buried deep in the vaults of collectors. The palate amps everything up as the orange peel becomes candied and attaches to a moist holiday cake, dried cranberry and cherry, more dark spice, a touch of nuttiness, and plenty of that vanilla. The finish takes its time as the mid-palate cherry sweetness slowly dissolves into an old wooden garden box full of fresh dark potting soil bursting with fresh mint and spicy nasturtiums. The palate centers the creamy vanilla while adding in a cinnamon bark vibe with notes of black pepper and floral honey moved into the background. The taste becomes a sort of buttered-biscuit-smothered-with-berry-jam thats been touched with spice as a note of sweetened vanilla lurks in the background. These references and hyperlinks are included for information purposes only and are selected by Whiskybase B.V. in good faith. SCORE: 4/5 (good, definitely recommend ~ B+ | 87-89) *Disclosure: The sample for this bourbon review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. Imagine dark and sweet cherries smothered in rummy molasses with a touch of dried roses, nuts, and cedar all leading towards the soft almost wet tobacco leaf. Im on the record as being a big Jack Daniels fan. This opens with this medley of marzipan, soft leather, prunes and dates, Gala apples, a hint of cedar, and a whisper of ripe red cherry. This year the most used warehouse actually came down to a tie. This whiskey takes Woodinvilles signature (and much-lauded) five-year-old straight bourbon and gives it a new finishing touch. The rye comes in late with a mild pepperiness and a slight savory fruit vibe. Theres a mild holiday cake vibe with brown spice, nuts, and dried fruit mingling with touches of oak, chocolate-covered berries, and biscuits. The rye is a 100 percent malted rye thats three years old. Origin: Clermont, KY, U.S.A. Price: $60 for 750 ml. You cant go wrong investing in one of these bottles either for your vault or your bar cart. The taste has a hint of almond or walnut shell on the end that marries to a dry mouthfeel, vanilla notes, and a touch of tobacco chewiness. That fruit edges towards dark berries with notes of worn leather, aged oakiness, and a sweet and rose-water-forward marzipan nuttiness shining through. It also makes a great cocktail. The barrels are pulled from various, undisclosed age ranges and vatted. Expect to pay . This hits very classic bourbon notes with a real depth that just doesnt end. They tend to be nutty, oaky bombs (especially the 14-15 year's) and they're bottled at 120 proof. Theres a lot to draw you in with this nose of rich tobacco spiciness next to soft cedar, tart cherry pie filling, saffron stewed pears, salted toffee, and what almost feels like the salted water left after boiling artichokes (seriously). From February 2022. The finish is soft and fast with that spice leading back towards a leather tobacco chew. Salted peanut shells lead towards soft cedar next to a dose of vanilla and Christmas spices on the nose. While this whiskey is a blend of sourced juice, it really shines as a classic bourbon from a new brand. A cherry sasparilla maybe? The nutty toffee carries through into the taste as oily vanilla pods mingle with cedar boxes of dried tobacco leaves and a touch of floral honey. The palate starts off equally soft with something more akin to maple syrup sweetness which then leads into a rush of berry brambles. Each year, the best barrels are selected yearly for batching and bottling with no fussing whatsoever. Booker was a sixth-generation master distiller who grew up at a distillery in the heart of Kentucky. A slight black tea bitterness takes over on the end as the nuttiness, spiciness, and sweetness all come together for a big finish with plenty of warmth and boldness. The whiskey is distilled and has the highest alcohol content of all other brands in the Jim Beam "Small Batch Bourbon Collection.". E. H. Taylor Barrel Proof. Batch # 2021-04. I really enjoyed this sip. This new expression was created by Bulleits Master Blender Eboni Major. The Tennessee whiskey is a marriage of ten-year-old whiskeys aged in the lowest char barrels available, allowing more direct contact with dried wood rather than black char. Third floors, however, might make a difference. Finish - 89/100 The finish is long and oak forward with notes of cereal grains. By making the ranking of "5" to be a perfectly average whiskey, we have much more room to grade whiskies on a wide variety of characteristics without them concentrating at one spot on our list. The end is long-ish, has touches of that dry pine, and holds onto both the vanilla and dried corn husks. This is delightful and one of the most unique expressions on this list. And while I dig the Cowboy Bourbon and Guadalupe, this is the one that stuck out in my mind for a heavy-duty yet accessible flavor profile that whisked me back to the dry grass plains of Texas. Clocking in at 128.5 proof, Booker's allows you to experiment at home by adding as much or as little water as you want until you get to a profile thats just right for you. These releases from New Riff will vary from location to location as theyre largely reserved for retailers. Stephen Beam is doing some amazing work out of a tiny distillery in rural Kentucky. The end circles back around to all that sweet and chocolatey creaminess with a final slice of pecan pie on a slow fade. 13 years later, this juice was bottled at 100 proof (as per the law) and sent out to the wide world where it received much adoration. This batch is named in honor of series creator Booker Noe's dad, the original Frederick Booker Noe, per a news release. This years 199 bottles are going to be super tough to find. Ohanneson explains that the "Holy Grail" of bourbon "is produced from just a few barrels and released yearly in very small batches.". It's bottled at its natural proof of between 121 and 127, and aged between six and eight years. Whiskey: Booker's 'Ronnie's Batch' Batch No. The juice is finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, making a sort of sibling to our favorite bourbon of 2020, the Port Cask Finish. Its highly drinkable neat or with some water. Therefore, they are often times compared head-to-head. That cornmeal comes through on the nose with a sense of candied orange, salted butter, and pancake syrup with a hint of brewers yeast. The 15-year barrels are high-quality bourbons hand-selected by Beam. The seven-year barrels were finished by Beam in Amarone red wine casks before this batch was put together, proofed, and bottled. This years LE Small Batch is a blend of four bourbons. So this is a small batch in theory and name more than practice. This expression is all about the prowess of the team at Nelson Green Brier. The finish takes its time as it ebbs and flows with those spices, the oak, and all that vanilla. 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