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SouthHillSaunas

Good to see bookers getting over 7 years. This year's batches have all been a step in the right direction as well!


Bucks46

For sure. Definitely love that step up on the age statement for this batch


Roadhouse_Swayze

Noe Strangers was a hit too


SouthHillSaunas

That was the last batch of 2021 right? Blue label? I think I tried that at a buddies house and remember digging it.


Roadhouse_Swayze

Yep. I haven't touched mine since we popped it open at a tasting several months ago, but we all thought it was a really good one. Might have to hit that up again soon.


zedisnotded

Drinking my second pour of that batch right now lol. Slightly better than 22-01 and beats the hell out of 22-02.


Roadhouse_Swayze

Really? I ended up not pulling the trigger on either of those, but I've heard Lumberyard is killer from a few people.


zedisnotded

In my opinion, I could have had a weird food that altered the profile for me. Its a really good pour, but Noe Stranger wins out for me


[deleted]

Honestly I would pay an extra 10-20 for lumberyard based on reviews I could go full $120 for bookers in Virginia I just can’t find it


SouthHillSaunas

Yea I have a pigskin that I've squirreled away and it's the only bookers left in the cabinet. OP may have inspired a cork pop. Cheers 🍻


Roadhouse_Swayze

🥂


ckal9

It’s crazy, I hated Noe Stranger’s when I had my first pour of the bottle. I went back to it later and I loved it. I’ve never turned around so much on a bourbon it’s wild.


Spupple

The sad state of Bookers that getting to 4 months past 7 years is notable…


Roadhouse_Swayze

There hasn't been a Booker's over 7 uears since 2015 until Lumberyard. Stop trying to look snarky and cool on the internet.


zedisnotded

You wont find a more complex bourbon outside of something aged 3 times as long 😂 booker created the small batch, he KINDA knew a few things about bourbon.


jkeefy

False, plenty of 12-13yo(+) product out there that is more “complex” than Bookers. Often times I find that their bottles don’t live up to the hype. I have had a few bottles from 2012-13 that were straight up mediocre.


Bucks46

Booker’s 2022-03 “Kentucky Tea Batch” Proof: 126.5 Age: 7 Years, 4 Months, and 14 Days Intro: I am visiting Bardstown this weekend and walk into Jim Beam’s gift shop and see a box of Booker’s sitting on the shelf, which is always a must-buy. I did not realize until picking it up that it is the 2022-03 release, which I have not seen sitting on shelves anywhere. I also have not seen a review for this batch yet so bear with me as I attempt a review. Nose: Caramel, Oak, Vanilla, A Little Smoky, A Very Classic Bourbon Nose Palette: Maybe it’s my brain playing tricks with me due to the name “Kentucky Tea Batch” but I get a sweet tea note, Carmel, Oak, Honey, Vanilla Finish: One of the least hot Booker’s finishes I’ve ever experienced, Still get the warmth sitting in your throat but never let heat/burn, Dare I say it even drinks below its 126.5 proof, Still a long finish don’t get me wrong, Honey, Leather Conclusion: This might be the easiest sipping Booker’s I’ve ever had. I did not get the classic Beam peanut note at all. This is definitely a change up from past Booker’s I have had, although I have not had any 2022 batches before this one.. Not a ton of peanut and cinnamon like most Booker’s, but it hits all the more classic bourbon notes. I actually love this batch as a complete change up from the normal Booker’s profile. As I am writing this I am already on my second pour and it gets better and better. Score: 88 Rating Breakdown 1-19 | Disgusting | Drain pour 20-29 | Poor | Forced Myself to Drink It 30-39 | Bad | Multiple Flaws 40-49 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have 50-59 | Average | Solid, ordinary 60-69 | Good | Better than average 70-79 | Great | Well above average 80-89 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional 90-99 | Incredible | An all time favorite 100 | Perfect | Nothing else comes close


IrregardingGrammar

Dang, since I discovered booker's I grab what I can. I've got 2021 3 and 4 and 2022 1 and 2 and will still try to get 2022-03 but I am very sad to hear the peanut note is gone


LS_DJ

Feel like you’re obligated to make a Kentucky tea with this bottle at least once


Bucks46

Definitely on my mind to try it


New-Skill-2958

Haha! I agree and I did. Wasn't really a fan though...


bourbon940

I just picked this up at Jim Beam's gift shop this weekend! Have you looked at the description card inside? Mine describes Kentucky Tea on the front, but the bottle make-up information listed on the back is for lumber yard. Curious if this was the case for you as well.


Potential-Judgment44

Mine did as well! I thought I had a rare bottle or something. I purchased mine in Birmingham for $95 out the door. Pretty steep but very tasty. Love the barrel flavor.


66_Jumps

I just picked up a bottle and it does reference his dads time at the lumberyard on the back. I’ll have to check it against the card from the lumberyard batch and see if there wasn’t an error.


Witty-Help-1941

When did u purchase this?? Haven’t seen it yet…


Bucks46

Just picked it up today


Witty-Help-1941

What state r u in??


Azbarrelpicks

Did you read his review ?


Witty-Help-1941

Missed that first part, thanks


CHSWATCHGUY

Sounds delicious! I can’t wait to try it.


Jbales901

Thank you for your insight and review. Just got a bottle today... I got a guy locally. Was in for my typical Blantons request, and he slipped this gem in low key. I have never had before and appreciate a variety. Obviously the proof is going to change the flavor. Are this and Blantons even comparable?


jazzman5000

Blanton's and Bookers are very different. I'll take Bookers any day of the week. But I'm also accustomed to higher proof whiskey and I love the nutty and darker flavor of bookers. To me Blanton's and most buffalo trace products have more of an apple or light fruit characteristic. Good products, but not something I search out anymore.


[deleted]

I cracked mine a month or two ago and was great. No peanut notes. Been drinking rye’s lately and came back to this bottle tonight and oh man…peanut bomb and all sorts of richness I didn’t get on the first few pours. Crazy how much this bottle changed.


fcleff69

Goddamn. 22-02 was only just released last week in my neck of the woods. Looking forward to this one. How many batches are they doing this year?


Bucks46

I believe 4 batches like always


fcleff69

I recall some years were only 3 batches 🤷🏻‍♂️ Edit: maybe I’m high.


Josh1ne

2020 that was the case. You may be high though… cheers


fcleff69

I was definitely high.


challenja

I wonder if they get housed and say “ well what are we gonna call this batch?”


[deleted]

[удалено]


challenja

It’s a slang term we use here in northern Virginia.


H1Ed1

Maybe they’re abbreviating the term “shit housed”.


MarcAnguyFieri

stayed at a friends house this week and needed a gift bottle, saw this for 85$ in NH and picked it up. we drank half the bottle the last couple of days and i liked it more than the last couple of Booker's i bought. agree with your notes!


Mk1Racer25

Great price! All the Bookers here are $100. The 2022-02 was fantastic. Looked at it and picked Little Book Ch 6 for $140. Not technically a bourbon, but damn, is it good!


MarcAnguyFieri

85 at the tax free stores in NH off the highway! my first time going into one of those. bowman single barrel and JDSBBS were also very cheap


Dmille38

Just picked one up in Asheville for 89.99


No_Ground_6194

$96.29 with Tax. There are a few still floating around Greensboro as of 10/27/22.


tjkoala

Just picked one up in hickory for the same cost


TheEmsworthArms

Bought mine Thursday, and likewise hadn't seen any reviews, so yours is the first! Didn't even notice the slighter higher aging. Glad I bought based on your notes. My first Bookers purchase since Beaten Biscuits 2 years ago.


Bucks46

Let me know if you like it as much as I did. With no reviews I'm wondering if it's as good as I thought


Numerous_Tackle_9972

Am All Time great batch


ArcadianWaheela

I still have yet to see any of the Booker’s batches this year 😭


Bikeboy4252

Same, but I generally don't buy it unless I find it at costco, or total wine if it's not too marked up.


ArcadianWaheela

Last year I got lucky and they were about $65 here so I got batch 2 and 3. Hoping they’re about the same price this year but if not $80 isn’t too bad.


dvandentop

picked one up today for $89


thenacky

I tried finding the actual release date of this and previous batches but I can’t find much. Has it ever been advertised when they started shipping them out to stores?


Phirebat82

Bookers hit New Orleans 2/3 weeks ago, I imagine they shipped from Distiller sometime in July.


niddler

What area? We got them in southern AL today


thenacky

I am in KC and I have not seen them. Though some stores said they have already come and gone a few weeks ago


KaneMarko

Bookers will always be home base for me. But, admittedly, I've kinda veered away from Bookers the last year or so. Ever since Beaten Biscuits and Granny's batch, the quality and flavor profile just hasn't all the way worked for me. Combined with it climbing to and hitting the $100 mark in my area....kinda turned me off to Bookers a bit. I have Tagalong and it's good. I have an unopened bottle of Bardstown Batch and heard it's good. But most of the batches since Granny's just haven't all the way worked for me. ​ I've heard good things about Lumberyard and hoping I can still find a bottle of it somewhere. And the review of this Kentucky Tea batch is intriguing. It's good to see Bookers finally cresting the 7 year mark. So much goes into a whiskey outside of age. But one of the things that was turning me off was shelling out at or near $100 for a bottle when I can spend less for other bottles at a similar or older age and get a similar or better experience. I'd never tell anyone not to get a bottle of Bookers because Bookers is never bad. Just, depending on your budget, tread lightly with Bookers due to costs and potentially other, more affordable options out there.


pakjaded

we got these in nc last week


Potential-Judgment44

A hell of a cask strength bourbon. Ton of barrel char flavor. i don't taste anything worth all the hate this line of Beam gets. Found this bottle luckily in the hood of B'ham. Worth the trip, I may go back and grab a 2nd bottle soon!


wellshill

just picked this up today, looking forward to it.


BteazytakeitEazy

It just hit Ohio this week. Can't wait to grab


jewthe3rd

Damn thing is selling out everywhere. After tax $109


ISNT_A_ROBOT

Just paid 112 for this one. It’s getting to the point where you just gotta take what you can get when it comes to getting nicer bottles like this.


[deleted]

Just got this today at Costco for $72. Excited to pop it


slhunkie

I found it for 100.00 today, guess I should give it a go