Beam Suntory

Booker’s Batch 2016-02 “Annis’ Answer” Bourbon Review

Bookers 2016_02

The second batch of Booker’s bourbon released in 2016 is called “Annis’ Answer”, honoring the day former Jim Beam master distiller (and this bourbon’s namesake) Booker Noe proposed to his wife Annis.  Since 2015, every batch of Booker’s is dedicated to one aspect of Booker Noe’s life, both professional and personal.

Bookers 2016_02 BBooker’s is a barrel-strength bourbon.  Other than filtering out chunks of barrel wood, this bourbon is pretty much straight out of the barrel.  This uncut whiskey is usually aged between six and eight years.  Fred Noe, current Jim Beam master distiller and Booker’s son, said, “The batch is made up of barrels from four different production dates stored in 5 different storage areas. The oldest barrels in the batch were 7 years, 1 month old and the youngest barrels were 6 years, 2 month old.”

Batch 2016-02 is bottled at 126.7 proof.  Bourbon beginners might want to add a splash of water.  However, I think everyone should experience a barrel strength whiskey at least once.  Maybe take a few sips neat before adding water.

The nose is filled with robust vanilla, caramelized sugar, burnt orange peel, and charcoal over a hint of lavender.  Taste-wise, a tantalizing concentration of dark brown sugar, vanilla extract, fresh orange, and toasted oak.  The finish is long and warm with notes of cinnamon, vanilla and slightly drying oak tannins.

This is one of my favorite batches of Booker’s since “Dot’s Batch,” which was released early 2015.  It’s a tad more complex than the usual releases.  However, I haven’t run across a bad batch yet.  My reaction to Booker’s usually goes from “mmm… me likey” to “oh my God!”  The latter was from tasting Booker’s 25th Anniversary, one of my favorite bourbons ever.  Just like Annis said to Booker the night he asked her to be his wife, say “yes” to this batch of Booker’s.

8.5/10
(Note: A review sample was provided by Beam Suntory.)

Hakushu 12-Year-Old Japanese Single Malt Whisky Review
Photo courtesy of Beam Suntory

Photo courtesy of Beam Suntory

The Hakushu Distillery, owned by Beam Suntory, sits at the foot of the Japanese Southern Alps, surrounded by forests.  I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting, but a quick internet search shows some breathtaking images.  The distillery was the company’s second, built in 1973.  It produces a different style than the company’s other major distillery – The Yamazaki.  Hakushu delivers a fresher and more herbal style.

The core lineup consists of a no-age statement Distiller’s Reserve as well as 12-year, 18-year, and 25-year-old expressions.  The 12-year-old expression is bottled at 43% and retails for about $70.

Japanese whisky is as popular as ever, seeing record sales.  However, Hakushu 12-year doesn’t seem to be as popular as Yamazaki 12-year or Hibiki as I still see it on shelves.

Hakushu’s website describes this 12-year-old expression as “green with herbal notes.”  That’s an accurate summary.  A short menthol blast on the nose starts things off, soon developing into waves of freshly mowed grass, lime zest, tangy Granny Smith apples and malt.  There isn’t an overt toffee note, but it’s in there.  In terms of taste, Hakushu 12-year-old comes across as what I’d best describe as candied herbs.  It’s nice and different.  Some tropical fruit, basil and lime juice are the main players here.  Sweet malt and green apple show up in the mid-palate alongside a bit of smokiness.  The long finish is full of sweet, sour and malty notes, leaving behind a lone pine note after some time.

Well that was different.  Different, but delicious.  I can say I’ve never tasted a whisky quite like this.  It’s zesty notes keep things fresh, while the herbal note and smoke add some unique character.  It’s an excellent year round whisky.  Hakushu 12 is a great choice, and comes with my recommendation.  Just know it’s not your ordinary whisky.

8/10
(Note: A review sample was provided by Beam Suntory.)

Laphroaig Triple Wood & 18-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Reviews
Photo courtesy of Laphroaig.

Photo courtesy of Laphroaig.

Readers of this blog know I’m a huge fan of Laphroaig whiskies.  I’ve enjoyed every expression of Laphroaig, except for their Select release.  I found that one to be a bit underwhelming.  So, when I decided to post a series of Islay whisky reviews, including Laphroaig was a no-brainer.  To this point, I’ve reviewed every core expression of Laphroaig except for the 18-year and the Triple Wood.  Let’s fix that.

Triple Wood

Photo courtesy of Laphroaig.

Photo courtesy of Laphroaig.

As the name suggests, this expression of Laphroaig is triple-matured.  The first maturation takes place in ex-bourbon barrels.  After an undisclosed amount of aging (after all, this IS a non-age stated whisky), the liquid is moved to smaller quarter casks for its second maturation.  After some time, the whisky is transferred again to European oak casks that previously held Oloroso sherry.  This release is non-chill filtered and bottled at a hearty 48% abv.

The nose is full of rich smoked fruit, caramel and peat, with some oak in the background.  The fruity aromas make sort of reminds me of a sweeter, younger sibling to Laphroaig 15 year old.  Taste-wise, oak is a major player – just as it is in Laphroaig Quarter Cask – and shows up immediately on the entry.  Sweet tropical fruit and toffee provide sweetness and richness to the whisky.  But, this is Laphroaig, so that signature ashy smoke and brine is here as well, though that salty note is a bit subdued.  Vanilla bean and a touch of wine pop up towards the end of the mid-palate.  The finish is a little hot at first, but fades over a long time and leaves behind smoked tropical fruit.

Laphroaig distillery manager John Campbell has concocted a rich, sweet and smoky whisky with Triple Wood.  There’s great precision in the use of ex-sherry casks for this release.  The sweetness the sherry cask-maturation provides gives this whisky extra layers of complexity and overall enjoyability.  Highly recommended.

8.5/10

Laphroaig 18-Year-Old

Photo courtesy of Laphroaig.

Photo courtesy of Laphroaig.

The general rule of thumb is that peated whiskies lose their “peatiness” the longer they mature.  Laphroaig’s standard 10-year-old expression is a peaty slap in the face.  Let’s see what eight extra years of maturation does to the “smoky beast”.

On the nose is a bit of sweet, almost candy-like fresh fruit (honeydew melon and pineapple) and vanilla, alongside soft peat and honey.  Though it’s bottled at 48% abv, the entry is rather mellow.  Those saccharine fruit notes from the nose are also found on the palate.  Toffee lends a bit of richness (and sweetness) on top of smoky vanilla and just a touch of spiciness.  The peat comes across as a grassy note.  Some citrus (I’m torn between lemon peel and grapefruit) develops into the long, sweet and somewhat smoky finish.

Eighteen years in oak did mellow the peat Laphroaig is famous for.  Though this expression is still richly flavored, the peaty punch has changed from an knock-out uppercut to a strong right hook.  It still tastes like a Laphroaig whisky, just not as sweet or smoky.  Let’s call it refined.  I liked this whisky a lot the first time I tasted it.  I liked it even more upon further sampling.  Highly recommended, so long as you’re not expecting a giant peaty beast.

9/10
(Note: Review samples were provided by Laphroaig.)