I have to admit that when I learned of this new release, I thought, “How long can this Wood Finishing Series go on?” Well, it took only one taste of The Keepers Release to convince me that this extension of the series is a great idea.
After sampling a handful of these different 8- and 10-year-old barrels, Pops and I decided that instead of a “Bottle” rating, we should buy a barrel.
If I were to point to my favorite of the Orphan Barrel line, this would be it. It’s not dry to the point of being acrid or bitterly oaky, which, honestly, is what I expected based on other long-aged Orphan Barrel releases.
To me, those whiskies exhibit a greater intensity of aromas gathered while resting in the first barrel, like extra coffee, extra cocoa and extra oak and all the tannin you’d expect that the bear. But this has dustiness all over it.
I’m a Bulleit fan. I love its barrel strength releases, I’ve done single barrel picks there and I love its 10-year products. But all of those came from elsewhere, and I was ready to see what the home team could do this time.
This high-proof release is in my sweet spot for wheated bourbon. Below 100 proof, wheated bourbon is unassertive and short on spice for my palate. As Maker’s Mark Cask Strength proved years ago, magic happens in wheated bourbon proofed well past the century mark.
The nose is laden with honey, caramel, spring flowers and a little ripe banana. Hints of white pepper and cinnamon come next with a whiff of mint thrown in. Those same aromas become flavors that form the backbone of this this middleweight spirit.
I personally enjoyed the 2022 and 2023 Gatsby releases a little more than this one. It’s still a very solid bourbon that drinks well above its age statement (more on that below), but it’s also quite different from previous releases.
What surprises me is the finish, which doesn’t linger, is not all that warm and is neither immediately tannic nor drying–attributes I expected from such lengthy oak interaction.
I’ve tasted better Booker’s releases for my palate, but there isn’t much to nitpick with this one, especially if you’re a fan of Beam’s drier and more peppery barrel-proof bourbons. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love Jimmy Russell?
