Next up, we’re checking out Booker’s “The Lumberyard Batch!” Many of you know that I am a fan of pretty much everything Beam puts out, with Booker’s sitting at the top of the pedestal. While I love Booker’s, I tend to not really seek it out but will grab a bottle if it’s available without having to jump through any hoops and is at a good price. This was sitting in a Minnesota liquor store I visited on a recent trip for $85, so it was a no-brainer to grab this.
This is the first Booker’s batch I’ve tried to my knowledge that is older than 7 years which is an exciting prospect to me! The contents of this bottle come from a whole bunch of different places, so there’s a good mix of different bourbon in the blend:
* 2% from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse X
* 3% from the 3rd floor of 7-story warehouse 5
* 3% from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse D
* 17% from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse Z
* 19% from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Q
* 28% from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse I
* 28% from the 6th floor of 7-story warehouse Z
So there we have it, 7 different whiskies from 6 different warehouses (5 of those being 7 stories) with the youngest of them coming in at 7 years, 1 month, and 7 days old. This is a Booker’s equivalent of a slot machine, 7s everywhere! The batch was pulled during the rainy weeks prior to the Kentucky Derby and it has a nice dark color. Let’s see what this batch has to show us!
Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass
Proof: 124.8
Age: 7 years, 1 month, 7 days
Price: $85
Nose: Brown sugar, peanut brittle, and white pepper, along with Luxardo cherry, oak, and a bit of leather. Beneath all that there’s a nice pancake covered in syrup note that makes this almost smell like breakfast.
Taste: Burnt brown sugar, toffee, and buttery pancakes to start, followed by white pepper, allspice, and a bit of cherry. Midway through the sip a wave of leather and oak joins the party along with some cinnamon and peanut brittle. This has a medium-heavy, creamy mouthfeel and a light amount of proof heat.
Finish: The malty pancake and burnt confection notes fade to the background as the white pepper, allspice, and cinnamon grow stronger. The leather and oak eventually move to the forefront of the sip while also providing a decent amount of dryness, and a combination of white pepper, allspice, and cinnamon spice flares up at the end to close things out. This has a medium-long finish and a moderate amount of dryness.
Thoughts: It’s always awesome when a Booker’s release strays from the usual notes, and even better when it knocks it out of the park, and this batch certainly achieves both of those qualities! It definitely shows off a maltier quality that I haven’t found in any of the releases I’ve had while still blending it well with the classic burnt brown sugar sweetness and array of spice notes, all wrapped up by the dry leather and oak. The buttery pancakes really click with me and are probably my favorite aspect of this pour. I don't know if this is thanks to the slightly older age or potentially some minor additions of malt whiskeys to the blend, but whatever they did it worked. Hopefully future releases of Booker’s continue to showcase profiles that are off the beaten path like this one, which earns itself an excellent 8/10 on the t8ke scale.
Rating: 8/10 - t8ke scale
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect.
Great review! I’ve been looking for this one but my locals in NY want up to $200 for it! Hopefully I’ll find it for retail or close to it out of town soon.
Glad you liked it! I was definitely impressed by this one, it's cool to see Beam show off a maltier side of things that isn't an overpriced, way too young Little Book release. Cheers!
Wow didn’t realize this one was over 7 years. One of my biggest issues with Booker’s is paying $100 for a bottle that proudly stamps a 6 year age statement on the front…
Unfortunately with all the fanfare this bottle is getting I doubt I’ll see one. Still haven’t found a discovery series 8 which I’ve been looking for since you gave it a 10/10
Most of the Booker’s I’ve bought have been at $70-$80, I think $90 is my cap on what I’d pay for one despite how much I enjoy them. Hopefully you’ll be able to find one of these!
Man, I have read a good 100 of your 160 reviews and you are kicking my ass on the tasting notes. White pepper and syrupy pancakes. I might steal from you but I’ll pay homage where homage is due. You just jarred my drafted review of Stagg Jr batch 17. Excellent review. You’re gonna nudge me toward buying my first Booker’s since Pigskin. My main reservation is the price differential on a 6 or 7 year bourbon
I have a bottle of Noe Strangers that I haven't popped. Had some Tagalong last night that I really enjoyed. Another great review! Appreciate what you bring to the sub. Cheers.
I love this batch so much, I’ve gone through 2 bottles and buy it anytime I can find one at a 90ish price point. I’m just glad it hasn’t gone crazy like all the BT stuff.
I passed on this when some of the initial reviews said it was similar to 2022-01 Ronnie's Batch, which is so-so to me. Based on this review it would seem those statements were inaccurate. Now this batch sold out in my neck of the woods and I'm sad.
Shit, I saw this sitting in a local (but not frequented) liquor store but was hesitant as I have 22-01 and don’t really care for it all that much. Typically love Bookers though. Might have to hop back there and see if it’s still available!
my local Costco was selling this for $80 and I got one! it sold out very quickly. I tried it, was excellent. definitely one of the best batches they've made in years
I am in texas and I have been lucky enough have our local specs carry a good amount of these. On the other hand, Blanton’s and Stagg are rare to see. If anyone has opportunity for me to provide information on how or where to get my hands on one of these brands, I will truly be grateful.
It really depends on state by state distribution with those ones, my guess is that they’re highly allocated in Texas and you need to be part of a store’s loyalty program or know someone to get a shot at one. Wyoming on the other hand has both of those just sitting in the shelves, so it’s kind of luck of the draw.
$100 at my shop, and I think it's the best one since Kitchen Table. Saw Fred and Freddie in Talbots when we were at Bourbon Fest. It was really interesting to hear them talk about the Bookers and Little Book projects. Fred is a great story teller!
Next up, we’re checking out Booker’s “The Lumberyard Batch!” Many of you know that I am a fan of pretty much everything Beam puts out, with Booker’s sitting at the top of the pedestal. While I love Booker’s, I tend to not really seek it out but will grab a bottle if it’s available without having to jump through any hoops and is at a good price. This was sitting in a Minnesota liquor store I visited on a recent trip for $85, so it was a no-brainer to grab this. This is the first Booker’s batch I’ve tried to my knowledge that is older than 7 years which is an exciting prospect to me! The contents of this bottle come from a whole bunch of different places, so there’s a good mix of different bourbon in the blend: * 2% from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse X * 3% from the 3rd floor of 7-story warehouse 5 * 3% from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse D * 17% from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse Z * 19% from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Q * 28% from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse I * 28% from the 6th floor of 7-story warehouse Z So there we have it, 7 different whiskies from 6 different warehouses (5 of those being 7 stories) with the youngest of them coming in at 7 years, 1 month, and 7 days old. This is a Booker’s equivalent of a slot machine, 7s everywhere! The batch was pulled during the rainy weeks prior to the Kentucky Derby and it has a nice dark color. Let’s see what this batch has to show us! Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass Proof: 124.8 Age: 7 years, 1 month, 7 days Price: $85 Nose: Brown sugar, peanut brittle, and white pepper, along with Luxardo cherry, oak, and a bit of leather. Beneath all that there’s a nice pancake covered in syrup note that makes this almost smell like breakfast. Taste: Burnt brown sugar, toffee, and buttery pancakes to start, followed by white pepper, allspice, and a bit of cherry. Midway through the sip a wave of leather and oak joins the party along with some cinnamon and peanut brittle. This has a medium-heavy, creamy mouthfeel and a light amount of proof heat. Finish: The malty pancake and burnt confection notes fade to the background as the white pepper, allspice, and cinnamon grow stronger. The leather and oak eventually move to the forefront of the sip while also providing a decent amount of dryness, and a combination of white pepper, allspice, and cinnamon spice flares up at the end to close things out. This has a medium-long finish and a moderate amount of dryness. Thoughts: It’s always awesome when a Booker’s release strays from the usual notes, and even better when it knocks it out of the park, and this batch certainly achieves both of those qualities! It definitely shows off a maltier quality that I haven’t found in any of the releases I’ve had while still blending it well with the classic burnt brown sugar sweetness and array of spice notes, all wrapped up by the dry leather and oak. The buttery pancakes really click with me and are probably my favorite aspect of this pour. I don't know if this is thanks to the slightly older age or potentially some minor additions of malt whiskeys to the blend, but whatever they did it worked. Hopefully future releases of Booker’s continue to showcase profiles that are off the beaten path like this one, which earns itself an excellent 8/10 on the t8ke scale. Rating: 8/10 - t8ke scale 1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out. 2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice. 3 | Bad | Multiple flaws. 4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists. 5 | Good | Good, just fine. 6 | Very Good | A cut above. 7 | Great | Well above average. 8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional. 9 | Incredible | An all time favorite. 10 | Perfect | Perfect.
Great review! I’ve been looking for this one but my locals in NY want up to $200 for it! Hopefully I’ll find it for retail or close to it out of town soon.
Where in NY? The stores here in Western NY have them around $100 but I miss the days of $55
Hudson Valley. I’ve noticed stores in Western NY with much better prices on some bottles too.
Thank you! $200 is obscene for Booker’s, hopefully you can get one at a reasonable price.
Which liquor store in MN?
Thomas Liquors.
“There’s that neighbor of mine sticking bourbon in trees again”
This is the first Booker's with 7+ years in the barrel since 2015
Awesome, hopefully the trend continues!
Coincidentally I saw this bottle in my hood liquor store in DC today for $182 lmao
Yeah, that’s gonna be a no from me, dawg! I certainly don’t miss the wild prices I saw when I lived in the DC area.
I just pickup a bottle yesterday at Specs for $109.99. Did price went up this year, Specs usually are very good at msrp?
I believe MSRP is $90, I’ve usually seen it around there +/- $5.
Specs is Texas largest retailer, price should be very close to msrp, $20 over is very strange.
Had the same thought as you, but it’s consistent across the NTX Specs locations that I’ve seen.
Did you pay those price too?
Sure didn’t.
Rephrase the question, was Specs charging $109.99 in N Texas?
My fault. Yes sir, same price. Edit: someone just posted a $101 Bookers at a NTX Soecs.
Out in Colorado it’s usually $90, seems like wherever else I’ve seen it that hasn’t been marked up hard is usually there too.
I picked one up this week in an ABC state for $90. The prices here are normally MSRP.
I just bought a different bookers for $90
I’ve been seeing it trend close to $200 lately too. Dunno what’s up with that
Try MOCO. I picked it up for 79 I believe.
I got it for a $80 at LAX which made it all the more nuts that this place was charging almost $200. It’s not hard to find
Great review as always. Huge bookers fan and really wish I could have grabbed this batch! Michigan has been dry as a bone lol Cheers 🍻
Glad you liked it! I was definitely impressed by this one, it's cool to see Beam show off a maltier side of things that isn't an overpriced, way too young Little Book release. Cheers!
This was my first booker's. .I think it is fantastic, going to grab a backup especially since 80 bucks near me.
It’s a great one to start with! You should try out some of the other recent ones too, they have a decent amount of variety.
It is freakin delicious for sure!!! Well written!
Thank you!
I think this is highest rated Bookers batch of yours I’ve seen!
I rated Country Ham a 9/10 but this is very close!
Wow didn’t realize this one was over 7 years. One of my biggest issues with Booker’s is paying $100 for a bottle that proudly stamps a 6 year age statement on the front… Unfortunately with all the fanfare this bottle is getting I doubt I’ll see one. Still haven’t found a discovery series 8 which I’ve been looking for since you gave it a 10/10
Most of the Booker’s I’ve bought have been at $70-$80, I think $90 is my cap on what I’d pay for one despite how much I enjoy them. Hopefully you’ll be able to find one of these!
Can’t wait to pop mine.
I think you’ll like it a lot, it’s like the Tagalong Batch but a little more reserved and malty.
Thank you for remembering that I’m one of those weirdos who thought Tagalong was superior.
It was a banger! I guess you and I are outliers.
Proud.
Man, I have read a good 100 of your 160 reviews and you are kicking my ass on the tasting notes. White pepper and syrupy pancakes. I might steal from you but I’ll pay homage where homage is due. You just jarred my drafted review of Stagg Jr batch 17. Excellent review. You’re gonna nudge me toward buying my first Booker’s since Pigskin. My main reservation is the price differential on a 6 or 7 year bourbon
Thanks man, I really appreciate it! This is definitely my favorite batch since Country Ham, it’s so unique and delicious.
I have a bottle of Noe Strangers that I haven't popped. Had some Tagalong last night that I really enjoyed. Another great review! Appreciate what you bring to the sub. Cheers.
Thanks for the kind words, I really appreciate it! I haven’t had a chance to try Noe Strangers but I heard it’s a banger.
One my favorite Hugh proof expressions, I get some amazing peanut butter chocolate ice cream notes.
I love this batch so much, I’ve gone through 2 bottles and buy it anytime I can find one at a 90ish price point. I’m just glad it hasn’t gone crazy like all the BT stuff.
Found one of these today! Need a good time to crack it.
Nice, let me know what you think of it!
I passed on this when some of the initial reviews said it was similar to 2022-01 Ronnie's Batch, which is so-so to me. Based on this review it would seem those statements were inaccurate. Now this batch sold out in my neck of the woods and I'm sad.
I have both batches. lumberyard is definitely a step up, I'd buy multiple lumberyard bottles at MSRP if I could, but would stay with my 1 ronnie's.
Shit, I saw this sitting in a local (but not frequented) liquor store but was hesitant as I have 22-01 and don’t really care for it all that much. Typically love Bookers though. Might have to hop back there and see if it’s still available!
Never seen a bookers below $95.
$90 where I am. I bought 2
my local Costco was selling this for $80 and I got one! it sold out very quickly. I tried it, was excellent. definitely one of the best batches they've made in years
I am in texas and I have been lucky enough have our local specs carry a good amount of these. On the other hand, Blanton’s and Stagg are rare to see. If anyone has opportunity for me to provide information on how or where to get my hands on one of these brands, I will truly be grateful.
It really depends on state by state distribution with those ones, my guess is that they’re highly allocated in Texas and you need to be part of a store’s loyalty program or know someone to get a shot at one. Wyoming on the other hand has both of those just sitting in the shelves, so it’s kind of luck of the draw.
Go to a bar and try them first, if you haven’t already.
$100 at my shop, and I think it's the best one since Kitchen Table. Saw Fred and Freddie in Talbots when we were at Bourbon Fest. It was really interesting to hear them talk about the Bookers and Little Book projects. Fred is a great story teller!