The Best Bottles Of Bourbon Whiskey For Under $20, Ranked Our Favorite Bourbon Whiskey From Every Price Point Between $10-$200 All 19 Brands From The Buffalo Trace Distillery, Ranked Here's. The juice is finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, making a sort of sibling to our favorite bourbon of 2020, the Port Cask Finish. But while there are similarities between the two, this feels like a step up in many small, tough to define ways. As mentioned above, this is a vatted from 40 total barrels from three different states. Well done, Pigskin. This bourbon from Alabama seemed to come out of nowhere this year and shook up the whole scene. You find new things every time you taste it. But Grannys Batch takes this note back in time for some nostalgic treats from grandmas house. This much-lauded Texas bourbon is the highwater mark of what great whiskey from Texas can be. The taste is warm but slightly rummy with a clear eggnog note acting as a driving force, leading towards hints of black licorice next to creamy toffee next to hefty chocolate bars filled with nougat and walnuts. . Their Discovery series continues to wow this year with another homerun whiskey that feels as special as it tastes. But once you start digging around in the nose and taste, you wont want to stop. 125-128 Proof Semi-Limited Clermont, KY. By law, bourbon must go in the barrel no higher than 125 proof and be bottled no lower than 80 proof. While the team at Pursuit United doesnt release the Tennessee distillery name, we know the juices from Kentucky and New York are from Bardstown Bourbon Company and Finger Lakes Distilling, respectively. The seven-year barrels were finished by Beam in Amarone red wine casks before this batch was put together, proofed, and bottled. . Im looking forward to trying this in a nice eggnog soon. Still, this is a great bourbon and the best Weller there is. With that in mind, we tasted this years releases side by side and ranked them below. This is another one that grew on me. The entrance and use of this website and these Conditions are governed by Dutch law. The mid-palate hits on a bit of dark spice, vanilla tobacco, and dark cacao bitterness. The taste leans into that oak barrel with dashes of woody spices (think allspice berries, star anise, and cinnamon sticks), dry cherry tobacco leaves, salted caramel, and more of that super soft leather. He was born to bourbon. Booker's Bourbon is a brand named for master distiller Booker Noe, a sixth-generation bourbon maker. At Bourbon Culture, we decided that a 10 point rating scale was the most appropriate way to grade each of our whiskey reviews . The 2020 Bookers Bourbon batches have come to a close with this months release of the final batch of the year, Pigskin. And now that weve tried them all, it seemed like the perfect time to rank them. The yeasts at play are delicate fruit, spice essence, and floral essence. The barrels ranged from 12 to 16 years old, making this a fairly old bourbon, all things considered. Its full of old cherry, dry leather, vanilla-laced tobacco leaves, rich caramel thats almost chewy, and maybe a touch of sassafras thats just leaning into root beer territory. Van Winkle Family Reserve 13 Year Rye. Before we dive in, a few notes: First, we're ranking bourbon brands overall here, not individual labels or releases, so, don't expect to see two different versions of Four Roses go. You get a deep sense of buttery toffee on the nose that leads you down a rocky path through a cherry orchard as soft notes of vanilla, worn leather, and warm, spicy tobacco leaves gently settle in your senses. Booker's 23 reviews Wine Spectator-Kentucky, USA- Cinnamon, hot and dusty corn, short snort of vanilla. The sweet taste was really nice and quite enjoyable. The new bottling also comes with a new proof of 90, bumping this up from the previous version. Booker's Bourbon Classification: Straight Bourbon Company: Beam Suntory Distillery: Jim Beam Released: Ongoing Proof: 128.5 Age: 6 Years, 2 Months Mashbill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley Color: Amber MSRP: $70 (2017) Official Website Buy Booker's Bourbon at Frootbat This remains one of my favorite sips of the year. The silky taste dances around oven-hot pans of pecan and maple-glazed sticky buns with plenty of cinnamon and nutmeg next to caramelized orange peel vibes and lightness thats almost hard to believe. That caramel sweetness merges into a fresh honeycomb next to Dr. Browns Cream Soda vanilla flavor and pep while the fruit dries out, leaving you with meaty dried figs, dates, and prunes driving the midpalate toward the finish. 3. That light yet buttery cream puff drives towards a slight shortbread vibe with toasted cinnamon sticks, moist cherry tobacco, more vanilla cream, and a soft echo of dried smoked stone fruits. Position Rank. The taste veers away from most of that towards sweet corn cakes with a touch of vanilla cream and eggnog spice. It's bottled at its natural proof of between 121 and 127, and aged between six and eight years. Its the highest proof bourbon in the Jim Beam small batch collection. This is another masterclass in what great blending can do across state lines. Personal information provided to Whiskybase B.V. via the website of Whiskybase B.V. or by email, shall be used solely for the purpose for which the personal data is provided to Whiskybase B.V., for instance the reaction to requests for information. Paul Suttons launch this year has been a solid one. Third floors, however, might make a difference. After retiring in 1992, Booker went on to work as an ambassador for the company and traveled the world promoting Beam bourbon until he died in 2004.Bookers bourbon ranges in proof between 121-131 and is aged 6-8 yrs. It also helps shine a light on how diverse the bourbon coming out of MGP really is. Order Booker's 2022-03 "Pinkies Batch" Bourbon online at sudsandspirits.com and have it shipped to your door nationwide. Though its very likely this is a low-rye bourbon mash. The nose on these tends to be soft, kind of like freshly baked rye bread, with notes of eggnog spices, slick vanilla flan, thin caramel sauce, and hints of spicy orange zest. Compared to other mid-aged Beam bourbons, a perfect batch of Booker's is an entirely different animal. Complete Booker's Batches Spreadsheet Batch # Barrel Date Proof Age Wax Notes . Proof of batches varies between 120 and 130. First, this is double aged, meaning that the whiskey spends 20 years mellowing in Buffalo Traces warehouses or twice as long as standard Eagle Rare. Booker's bourbon is one of the small batch bourbons produced by the Jim Beam distillery, which is owned by Beam Suntory (a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings of Osaka, Japan).Having the highest alcohol content of the brands in the Jim Beam "Small Batch Bourbon Collection", it is a cask strength bourbon. This years spring release is a marriage of eight-year-old whiskeys produced in the spring of 2013. Pinkie's Batch is bottled at 122.4 proof and is precisely six years, 10 months . They tend to be nutty, oaky bombs (especially the 14-15 year's) and they're bottled at 120 proof. The only batch to represent a third floor was Boston, which contained 11 percent from the third floor of Warehouse 5 (a 7-story warehouse). The very end leaves you with this dry cedar box that once held allspice berries, anise, and cinnamon but now holds a very dry leaf of cherry-choco tobacco. This is classic Beam whiskey with a low-ish rye mash bill of 77 percent corn, 13 percent rye, and ten percent malted barley. As is the case with all batches, Booker's son Fred selected the bourbon for this release personally in an effort to uphold his father's standards. The juice is another classic that hits a little higher price point but pours really well, especially if youre looking for a craft Kentucky bourbon gift this year. The spirit carries on those paths as it layers in buttery and sugary streusel over tart berries with plenty of that spice next to a nice dose of salted caramels covered in a bit of bitter dark chocolate. The whiskey is distilled and has the highest alcohol content of all other brands in the Jim Beam "Small Batch Bourbon Collection.". Booker's Bourbon is part of Jim Beam's Small Batch Collection. It's also significantly cheaper. The taste embraces those notes while adding a bright cherry sweetness next to dried tobacco leaves, worn leather, rye black pepper, and plenty of buttery toffee. Its highly sippable and really blooms when you add a little water, so take your time enjoying this one. NOTICE: Many other small liquor store sites will end up . Four Roses is renowned for its ten distinct recipes with two mash bills and five yeast strains. The second aspect is the decanter. Jimmy Russell hand selects eight to nine-year-old barrels from his warehouses for their individual taste and quality. Thats a shame because this is a hell of a sipper and more folks should be able to get their hands on this one. This whiskey was produced in the spring of 2003. Warehouse H is one of Beams nine story warehouses. The best batch of the year turns out to be the last release of the year. Booker's Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Access to over 2.4 million ratings and reviews, More than 200.000 bottles available from retailers around the world, The most trusted source of factual bottle information available. This list comes. The sip draws you in with a spicy berry jam next to a perfumed note (kind of like wet potpourri) and buttery toffee sweetness. The palate centers the creamy vanilla while adding in a cinnamon bark vibe with notes of black pepper and floral honey moved into the background. Ranking batches of Booker's is, to a certain extent, a ridiculous exercise. Imagine the softness and richest crme anglaise with a touch of salted caramel syrup, eggnog spice, and a towering croquembouche with all the spun hard sugar holding the whole thing together. Coming up in 2nd place is Ronnie's batch, adding in some notes like chocolate and peanut butter, light vanilla, I really enjoyed 2022-01 The new bottle design this year helped add to the aesthetic pleasantness of the bourbon for sure. The expression is a marrying of 200 barrels of bourbon from Heaven Hills warehouses. Creating duplicate accounts (split personality is not a good reason.). The nose has this matrix of dark holiday spices that layer into a Black Forest cake with the finest stewed cherries, the moistest chocolate sponge cake, and the richest cream with a touch of vanilla and dark chocolate shavings and a whisper of pink finishing salt. While this whiskey is a blend of sourced juice, it really shines as a classic bourbon from a new brand. You think about it. Its really that good. Beyond that, this was a Travelers Exclusive up until the pandemic. . You go back to it. (You can unsubscribe anytime). The end tends to be slow and velvety with the spice, fruit, oak, and vanilla all blending nicely until the very last. This opens with a nose full of salted butter next to hints of very soft leather, light notes of vanilla bean, a touch of toffee sweetness, and freshly cracked walnuts with a dry edge. Buffalo Trace. And while I dig the Cowboy Bourbon and Guadalupe, this is the one that stuck out in my mind for a heavy-duty yet accessible flavor profile that whisked me back to the dry grass plains of Texas. The palate has a jammy presence with a plum compote spiked with cloves and allspice next to a touch of port-soaked cedar planks, vanilla cream, sultanas, and I want to say mulled wine cinnamon sticks. Old Foresters Master Taster Jackie Zykan released this new line from the iconic brand last spring. The distillery is the first African-American-owned brand working in the state. This websites is intended to serve general information purposes only. Paul Sutton is a new bourbon from an old family recipe. This whiskey is all about the blending process that Stellum employs to make this special and award-winning bourbon. This new release from Redemption feels perfect for the end of the year and all the feasting that comes along with it. Overall, this is a lighter bourbon by Texas standards and that helps it stand out amongst the crowd. The 50 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Of 2021, Ranked, GloRilla, Ice Spice, And The Carefree Black Girl Backlash, Karol G Tells Us About Her Most Personal Album Yet, Maana Ser Bonito, And Collaborating With Shakira, The Rundown: Between Cocaine Bears And Maple Syrup Heists, Margo Martindale Is Absolutely Thriving In 2023. That fruit and oak will carry through on the palate as hints of buttery toffee, rich vanilla, and peppery spice mingle on the tongue and set your lips abuzz. George T. Stagg Producer: Buffalo Trace Proof: Barrel Proof MSRP: $80 Why it's better: Simply put, George T. Stagg is the best bourbon currently being produced. Booker's Bourbon Print Share STORE ONLY $89.99 Product 016906 Size: Unlike anything you have ever tasted, Booker's is one of the only uncut, unfiltered, straight-from-the-barrel, bourbons available today. The website of Whiskybase B.V. includes references and/or hyperlinks to third party websites. LeNell's Red Hook Rye. The result is this award-winning Barrel Strength bottle, which possesses a surprising complexity considering that its alcohol content lies somewhere between 120 and 25 proof, depending on . And . 50 ml: Batch 124-X900: 76.00: Whiskybase. This tiny and new distillery was founded in West Louisville by brothers Victor, Chris, and Bryson Yarbrough. This is classic Makers thats treated with a little less of that limestone water to let the barrel techniques shine a bit more while still holding onto the Makers vibe. The finish drives back towards the sweetness of that salted caramel but this time its covered in dark chocolate and sitting inside an old cedar box that once held fistfuls of menthol-laced tobacco leaves. The juice is a collection of a minimum of 13-year-old barrels that Eddie Russell hand-picked. Beam Distilling Co. released the final installment of the 2022 Booker's Bourbon Collection, Booker's Batch 2022-04, "Pinkie's Batch.". Michter's 20 Bourbon. Appearance: Burnished copper. Freddie Noe is the great-great-grandson of the master distiller Jim Beam, also known as Booker Noe. This thirst quencher was sourced from 6 different rickhouses with an age statement of 7 years, 4 months, and 14 days. While the water didnt significantly change the nose or palate for me, I did notice a very slight hint of fresh cut grass coming out on the finish. Experience the unique blend of Booker's Noe Pinkies Batch, a premium small-batch bourbon named after Frederick Booker Noe, aka Pinkie, who was known for his love for bourbon. This was a hell of a first drop from Zykan. These older age statement bourbons were a tee-up to Blue Run releasing their own-make whiskeys going forward. This years 20-year drop helped solidify the excellence of this expression. The palate goes full crme brle with sticky burnt sugar over the top and a slight touch of allspice and nutmeg next to a dark cacao powder dryness with a touch of smoke salt and light, dry cedar. For example, the. The bourbon is made from a blend of corn, rye, and barley, and is aged for a minimum of six years in oak barrels. The whiskey is aged for at least ten years. This might be the perfect old fashioned bourbon. Then whats the point of naming the batches? Booker's Ronnie's Batch is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey aged for 6 years, 6 months, and 12 days before being bottled at 124.4 proof. The nose on this one is mildly sweet with almost earthy maple syrup next to pecans from a pie with a touch of dried apple and old leather. Nose: Dates and other sticky dried fruit, like a fruitcake along with vanilla and spice. Booker's Bourbon is a brand of bourbon produced by the company Jim Beam. The palate really holds onto the berries while savory rhubarb cobbler mingles with dates, old leather tobacco pouches, and vanilla pudding with a salted caramel drizzle. 13 years later, this juice was bottled at 100 proof (as per the law) and sent out to the wide world where it received much adoration. The taste becomes a sort of buttered-biscuit-smothered-with-berry-jam thats been touched with spice as a note of sweetened vanilla lurks in the background. The nose opens with a build of vanilla pods next to caramel, a touch of oak, and a thin line of fresh maple syrup. The age comes through with a big medley of dark cherries sitting in a big cedar bowl with a dark leather jacket imbued with decades of cigarette smoke and perfume next to a hint of dark chocolate orange balls. That then draws towards subtle pops of orange oils, floral honey, walnuts in buttery brown sugar syrup, and this mild touch of spiced apple tobacco leaf. That makes the barrels that go into this expression super rare. The palate builds on that cinnamon spice with a touch of nutmeg and clove that ties to a vanilla pudding-esque svelte body next to little pops of dried pecan shells, faux maple syrup, cinnamon toast with plenty of butter, more of that ginger, and a touch of subtle red fruit. Booker's Bourbon 2021-04 "Noe Strangers Batch" The fourth and final 2021 release from Booker's, this iteration was aged for 6 years, 6 months, and 12 days, and arrives at a dizzying 62.2 . The 2020 Bookers Bourbon Batches Explained and Ranked. Clay is Editor at Large of The Bourbon Review. This is always a pleasant surprise whenever I get to drink it. This years 199 bottles are going to be super tough to find. Jim Beam. It was very easy-going and makes a killer cocktail. This isnt a bourbon to be taken lightly. Bulleit Bourbon. The end is kind of long and really smoothes out, thanks to the vanilla and toffee as the peppery spice builds towards a tobacco-filled cedar box and a very distant hint of fresh mint. USA. This bourbon is a great example of how important barrel selection can be. Its comforting but really deep and worn kind of like wrapping up in an old blanket next to a wood stove. Pinhooks contract distilled bourbon is all about refinement. 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