Category: Batch

Bookers 2021-04 “Noe Strangers Batch” Bourbon Review

Bookers 2021-04 “Noe Strangers Batch” was the last batch released in 2021 and we have yet to see batch 01 of 2022 come out so as of writing, this is the most current batch. 2021 was a weird year for a lot of reasons, but in the whiskey world it brought about some odd Booker’s. […]

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Bookers 2021-04 “Noe Strangers Batch” was the last batch released in 2021 and we have yet to see batch 01 of 2022 come out so as of writing, this is the most current batch. 2021 was a weird year for a lot of reasons, but in the whiskey world it brought about some odd Booker’s. To be blunt, the first two batches of the year didn’t really taste like Booker’s to me.

Bookers 2021-04 Noe Strangers Batch Bourbon Review

Though that all changed with the 2021-03, we saw the classic Booker’s profile come back up and I’m hoping we see it happen again here with 2021-04. With so much changing and shifting so quickly, it would be nice if something could go back to the way it was. But before we dig into the review, here’s the barrel breakdown.

  • 39% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse J
  • 31% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Q
  • 27% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse D
  • 3% came from the 2nd floor of 9-story warehouse H

Let’s get to drinkin’!

Bookers 2021-04 “Noe Strangers Batch” – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Style: Bourbon (Straight)
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Jim Beam

Mash Bill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye and 10% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 6 Years, 6 Months, 12 Days
ABV: 62.2%

Batch: 2021-04 (Noe Strangers)

Bookers 2021-04 “Noe Strangers Batch” Price: $100*

Related Whiskey

Booker’s Bourbon 2020-02 “Boston”
Booker’s 2020-03 “Pigskin”
Booker’s 2021-01 “Donohoe’s”
Booker’s 2021-02 “Tagalong”
Booker’s 2021-03 “Bardstown”

White background tasting shot with the Bookers 2021-04 "Noe Strangers Batch" sample bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“This batch celebrates the genuine, social nature of my dad, Booker Noe, and the way he could turn a stranger into a friend for life in no time.” – Jim Beam

 

Bookers 2021-04 “Noe Strangers Batch” Tasting Notes

EYE
Caramel

NOSE
Oak, caramel, hazelnuts, grainy sweetness, toffee, dried dark fruit, vanilla pods, peanuts and a light “fresh clay” earthy note with a bit of baking spice.

Nice classic Booker’s aroma.

PALATE
Oak, caramel, hazelnuts, roasted corn, toffee, dried dark fruit, vanilla pods, baking spice, roasted peanuts and a light “fresh clay” earthy note with a bit of herbal.

Classic, warm, bold, heavy Bookers.  Yes!

FINISH
Long -> Oak, baking spice, caramel, vanilla and herbal.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Well balanced, full-bodied, oily touch dry.

Bookers 2021-04 “Noe Strangers Batch” – Overall Thoughts and Score

Noe Strangers Batch is another return to classic Booker’s and I’m loving it. This is bordering on a 4.5 and has me looking around to see who has it and at what price. Price being the key because like all good, and even some terrible, bourbon these days, price is a huge aspect in what I’ll buy, though still has no impact on the score. And speaking of the whiskey…

Adding water to the 2021-04 kicks up more of the spice which continues to grow as it opens, but never becomes super heavy. That said it is one of the spicier Booker’s I can remember. This goes for both aroma and palate. On the aroma a bit more vanilla also kicks in and on the palate there is more of that oaky and darkly sweet (candy and fruity) profile that builds.

The trend since about 2018 seems to be that the best Booker’s always come out in the back half of the year. With this Bookers 2021-04 “Noe Strangers Batch” being so good and the Bardstown Batch also being quite good, 2021 kept that trend running. I’m curious to see how 2022 will shake out.

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. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.

Bookers 2021-04 Noe Strangers Batch Bourbon Labels

Bookers 2021-04 Noe Strangers Batch Bourbon Review $100
Overall
4.3
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    (4.5)
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    (4.5)
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Booker’s 2021-03 “Bardstown Batch” Review

The end of 2021, and beginning of 2022, were hectic to say the least, so I’m a bit behind on new samples, like this Booker’s 2021-03 “Bardstown Batch”. To address this and get some of these samples done I’m taking a brief break from the Glenmorangie super vertical to hit some of the more recent […]

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The end of 2021, and beginning of 2022, were hectic to say the least, so I’m a bit behind on new samples, like this Booker’s 2021-03 “Bardstown Batch”. To address this and get some of these samples done I’m taking a brief break from the Glenmorangie super vertical to hit some of the more recent whiskeys in my queue.

Booker's 2021-03 Bardstown Batch Review

Of the samples, I think this is the oldest. And by that the one that’s been in the queue the longest. Not the oldest whiskey in the queue, there’s’ at least one 18-year-old Scotch patiently waiting to get on the screen. Anyways, we all know what Booker’s is, so no need to go into super detail, but before we get into this bourbon review, here’s the barrel composition of batch 2021-03.

  • 27% came from the 5th floor of 9-story rackhouse H
  • 24% came from the 6th floor of 9-story rackhouse D
  • 19% came from the 5th floor of 7-story rackhouse 1
  • 11% came from the 5th floor of 7-story rackhouse Z
  • 11% came from the 8th floor of 9-story rackhouse J
  • 8% came from the 2nd floor of 9-story rackhouse H

Let’s get to drinkin’!

Booker’s 2021-03 “Bardstown Batch” – Details and Tasting Notes

 

Whiskey Details

Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color

Style: Bourbon (Straight)
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Jim Beam

Mash Bill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye and 10% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 6 Years, 5 Months
ABV: 62.75%

Batch: 2021-03 (Bardstown)

Booker’s 2021-03 “Bardstown Batch” Price: $100*

Related Whiskey

Booker’s 2019-04 “Beaten Biscuits”
Booker’s Bourbon 2020-02 “Boston”
Booker’s 2020-03 “Pigskin”
Booker’s 2021-01 “Donohoe’s”
Booker’s 2021-02 “Tagalong”

White background tasting shot with the Booker's 2021-03 "Bardstown Batch" sample bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“This batch honors the homeplace of not only my dad, Booker Noe, but several generations of Beam family members, including myself and my son Freddie.” – Jim Beam

 

Booker’s 2021-03 “Bardstown Batch” Tasting Notes

EYE
Caramel

NOSE
Peanut brittle, oak, dried dark fruit, x-mas spice, brown sugar, touch of citrus and vanilla taffy.

A light farmy note peeks out as it opens, but it’s definitely a return to a more standard Booker’s profile.

PALATE
Oak, peanut brittle, x-mas spice, citrus, brown sugar, vanilla taffy and a light herbal quality

This is Booker’s. I’m digging the oak-lead profile that’s balanced against spice and sweetness.

FINISH
Long -> Oak, dark sweets and spice fade to a warm oak.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Good sense of balance, full body and a velvety feel.

Booker’s 2021-03 “Bardstown Batch” – Overall Thoughts and Score

Finally, we’re back to Booker’s! The last two batches have been a bit different, a bit atypical and not exactly my favorite. But this Bardstown Batch is back to form. Warm, oaky, deep and heavy, this is the kind of thing we like to see from this venerable name. The kind of profile I want to reach for and sip regularly.

Adding water to the 2021-03 brings out more peanut notes and more baking spice especially on the aroma. On the palate the same rise up a bit, but do so against a growing biscuity background. All of which is delivered on a heavy, but always balanced, slab of oak.

This Booker’s 2021-03 “Bardstown Batch” is true to Booker’s form and I love getting back to it. I hope they keep it going.

SCORE: 4/5 (very good, highly recommended – B+ | 87-89)

*Disclosure: The sample for this bourbon review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.

Booker's 2021-03 Bardstown Batch Label

Booker's 2021-03 Bardstown Batch Review $100
Overall
4
  • Nose
    (4)
  • Palate
    (4)
  • Finish
    (4)
  • BBF
    (4)
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0 (0 votes)
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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Review

Sitting down to think about the order of this review series, I considered kicking things off with this Old Forester 1870 Original Batch. It’s the modern update to the base release that kicks the proof up a touch. Seemed like a good place to start, but looking at the full lineup I had in front […]

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Sitting down to think about the order of this review series, I considered kicking things off with this Old Forester 1870 Original Batch. It’s the modern update to the base release that kicks the proof up a touch. Seemed like a good place to start, but looking at the full lineup I had in front of me, it didn’t quite feel right.

Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Review

In the end, I obviously decided to kick off with the dusty bourbons, move to an older single barrel and then start in on the newer core releases. I felt starting with the distant past, moving to the recent past and then moving through the current release would give a better perspective on the modern line and tie together everything I’ll be covering.

And speaking of covering, the one that I won’t be doing this week is the 1910 Old Fine Whisky… because I already did it. Now, let’s get to drinkin’ and dig into this 1870 Original Batch.

 

Old Forester 1870 Original Batch – Details and Tasting Notes

Whiskey Details

Style: Bourbon (Straight)
Region: Kentucky, USA

Distiller: Old Forester
Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Cask
Age: 4+ Years
ABV: 45%

Price: $45 ($39 on sale)

White background tasting shot with the Old Forester 1870 Original Batch bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.
“In 1870 George Garvin Brown created Old Forester on Louisville, KY’s, famous Whiskey Row. In honor of that milestone year in bourbon history, we have crafted a tribute – Old Forester 1870 Original Batch – the first expression in the Old Forester Whiskey Row series.” – Old Forester

 

Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Tasting Notes

EYE
Amber

NOSE
Cherry-heavy dried dark fruit, oak, coffee cake, vanilla, brown sugar and touches of cinnamon.

Not super-expressive or dense, but the aroma is enjoyable.

PALATE
Caramel, dried dark fruit, oak, biscuity, maple frosting on a donut, cocoa and some baking spice.

Like the aroma, the palate is soft, easy and enjoyable.

FINISH
Medium -> Maple donut, oak, corn and dried dark fruit.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Decent balance, medium body and a velvety texture.

Old Forester 1870 Original Batch – Overall Thoughts and Score

Aroma and palate sit on even footing with neither out-showing the other and it makes for a balanced and enjoyable experience. Though that parity can get a little monotonous after a while and on my final review glass I find myself a bit… bored.

Old Forester 1870 Original Batch is good, no denying that, but I really don’t see myself grabbing this on a regular basis to sip. But I do see myself going through the rest of this bottle via cocktails. It has a nice balance and even profile that lends itself perfectly to building tasty cocktails around.

SCORE: 3/5

Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Label

Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Review $45

Summary

Not bad, something I’d rather mix than sip, but that’s not a bad thing. A sip here or there with plenty of well-balanced drinks in-between is not a bad way for a bottle to go down.

Overall
3
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    (3)
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