whisky review

Booker’s 25th Anniversary Bourbon Review

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I don’t see a lot of reviews online for this monster of a bourbon, so here goes.  Booker’s is produced by Jim Beam.  It’s part of their Small Batch collection, which also includes Knob Creek, Basil Hayden, & Baker’s.  Booker’s is named after Booker Noe, Jim Beam’s grandson and former Master Distiller at Jim Beam.  Booker, like many of the older generations of master distillers, used to bottle “the good stuff” and give it out as gifts to friends and family.  In the late 1980s, he decided to release it for the general public.  Booker’s label says it’s bottled uncut and straight from the barrel.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first release of Booker’s, Fred Noe (Booker’s son and current Master Distiller at Jim Beam) decided to release this bourbon in very limited numbers.  The bourbon inside this release is said to be among the last barrels of whiskey distilled by Booker Noe before he died.

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This release is 10 years 3 months old.  Normally Booker’s is 6 to 8 years old.  Does the extra time in the barrel make a difference?  Yes.  The normal release of Booker’s is an intense experience – a concentration of wood, spice, and sweetness.  This special release gives a similar experience.  Even at 130.8 proof I find the extra couple of years in the aging warehouse mellow this beast out a little.  That is, it’s a little smoother (if you want to use that word for whiskey) than the regular Booker’s.

This magnificent bourbon is intense when you drink it neat.  A little splash of water might be recommended.  I find it a little sweeter when I dilute it.  I get a lot of vanilla and caramel here, whether I drink it neat or diluted.

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I’ve said before I’m a sucker for great packaging.  This one comes in a stained wooden box that’ll look impressive on your shelf.  The bottle is dipped in a copper colored wax and has gold embossed writing.  Booker’s 25th anniversary is my favorite packaging in a bourbon.

So cost…  $99 a bottle.   Because this is a special limited release, it’s going to be pricey.   There are only 1,000 cases of this available, which means only 6,000 bottles total, period.  It’s supposed to hit shelves later this month.  I bet it will be pretty tough to find.  Is it worth $99?  Short answer:  yes, if you like barrel-strength bourbon.  Booker’s regular release is about $50.  This one’s older and a bit more rounded in flavor.  If you like Booker’s, you’ll love this release.  If you’re new to barrel strength whiskey, sample Booker’s regular release first.

This is easily the best bourbon I’ve tasted from folks at Jim Beam.

Pick this one up while you can.  9.5/10

Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey Review

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Contrary to my fiancee’s stern belief, Elijah Craig is not actor Daniel Craig’s brother.  Elijah Craig was a Baptist preacher who, according to some bourbon stories, is credited with inventing what we know as bourbon in the late 1700s.  It makes for an interesting read, especially as you’re enjoying a glass of what else – Elijah Craig 12 years old.  On to the bourbon…

This one’s a great middle-of-the-road bourbon.  That’s not a bad thing.   Not too sweet and not too spicy.   At 94 proof, Elijah Craig 12 is full of flavor, but it’s balanced and never boring.  I noticed some caramel, brown sugar, and strangely enough some licorice while tasting it.  Nothing like Herbsaint or Absinthe, but just a small whiff of licorice.

The finish is short, sweet, and a little woody.

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At $25 or so, Elijah Craig 12 years old might be the best deal out there.  Heaven Hill Distilleries also makes a 20 year expression at a significantly higher price.  I’m not saying don’t buy that one, but their 12 year old seems like a steal.

Get yourself a bottle.  9/10

Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Years Old Bourbon Whiskey Review

IMG_1898I thought I’d kick off my first whiskey review with what’s up to now my favorite bourbon overall – Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15 Years Old.

You probably already know the background, hype, and near unobtainable status of this whiskey.  Making Pappy 15 year my first review tells you a little about my bourbon leanings – I prefer bourbon on the sweeter, slightly woodier side.  I enjoy a high rye mash bill, but I lean towards the softer wheated bourbons a little more.

I find this particular bourbon sweet, soft, and smooth, even at 107 proof.  I guess 15 years in a barrel will do that to whiskey.  It’s not too woody, which is an observation I often come across when reading about Van Winkle’s 23 year old expression.  I know it’s cliche, but there’s a lot of caramel, vanilla, and butterscotch here.  The folks at Buffalo Trace really know what they’re doing.

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It’s got just the right amount of burn.  It’s not too much and not too sharp.  It’s nearly perfect.

Okay, cost.  The suggested retail price is about $79.  By some stroke of luck, I paid only slightly more than that.  Is it worth $79? Yes, if you can find it. You can get great whiskies for under $25, but this one’s special.  For me, this is a bourbon that comes out for special occasions only.

This one lives up to the hype.  9.5/10