Style: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey
Age: 7 years, 1 month, 8 days
Proof: 126.6 (63.3 % ABV)
Region: Clermont, Kentucky
Booker’s Bourbon is all about honoring the past. The brand is named after the late Booker Noe, former master distiller at James B. Beam Distilling. Past batches of Booker’s pay tribute to friends of the Noe family who have been a part of the Jim Beam distilling story, and their first batch of 2023 is no different. This batch is named after Charlie Hutchens, the artisan who crafts all of the wooden boxes that bottles of Booker’s are packaged in. Every batch of Booker’s has its own unique character, so let’s see how this expression stacks up.
Tasting notes
The nose of this bourbon is sweet and dessert-like, almost like crème brulee with just a whiff of smoke. You do get an indication of the high alcohol content on the nose, but it isn’t overwhelming. The palate is spicy, with a full burst of cinnamon and clove up front that’s bolstered by a flavor of candied walnut and raisins. It has a round buttery mouthfeel to balance the baking spice. Thanks to the high proof, the finish is long and carries the spice on a pleasant wave of caramel.
Final thoughts
Charlie’s Batch is a full-flavored, full-proof bourbon that is a nice addition to Booker’s line, though it might not be for the faint of heart. For tipplers who haven’t yet been baptized by hazmat-level whiskeys, a few drops of water or a block of ice might be needed to calm this one down. Lovers of high-proof, no-holds-barred bourbon will find a lot to enjoy here – the baking spice-forward flavor profile hits all of the notes that keep people coming back to the category.
