Booker’s 25th Anniversary Bourbon was released to celebrate the 25th year of Booker’s Bourbon and includes the oldest whiskey ever bottled for the Booker’s line (9-11 years). But wait, there’s more: these barrels were not just the oldest ever bottled under the Booker’s name, but were also among the last barrels Booker laid down before his passing. Some special juice here.
Like the Booker’s Center Cut, and all other Booker’s releases, the Booker’s 25th Anniversary Bourbon was taken from the 5th floor (“center cut”) of the Jim Beam warehouses to get that perfect balance of rustic (oak, grain, leather, etc.) and sweetness (caramel, vanilla, dark fruit, etc.).
Whiskey Review: Booker’s 25th Anniversary Bourbon
In Jim Beam’s Words: Booker’s 25th Anniversary Bourbon
“In honor of 25 years, Booker’s® Bourbon is giving bourbon enthusiasts a reason to celebrate with a limited edition release of an exclusive bottling that is the most unique liquid produced to date. Batch No. 2014-1 pays homage to its namesake, 6th Generation Beam Master Distiller, Booker Noe, who was a lot like his favorite bourbon: uncut, unfiltered and straight up.”
Booker’s 25th Anniversary Bourbon price, ABV, age and other details
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Jim Beam
Mashbill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 9 Years (barrels aged 9-11 years)
ABV: 65%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Batch: 2014-01
Price: $100 (when releases… much more on secondary now)
Booker’s 25th Anniversary Bourbon Tasting Notes
EYE
Oak brown
NOSE
Oak, leather, dark chocolate, dark fruit, complex dark sweets (caramel, toffee, brown sugar, etc.), complex spice (nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, etc.) and bits of vanilla bean, menthol and cooked brown rice.
PALATE
OAK! Roasted corn, leather, raisiny dark fruit, dark cocoa, complex baking spice, complex dark sweets, toffee and a bit of vanilla, dried fruit and burnt marshmallows.
FINISH
Long -> Oak, cherry heavy dark fruit, spice and cocoa.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Fantastic balance, full round body and an oily feel that fades out tannic and dry.
Booker’s 25th Anniversary Bourbon Review – OVERALL
Booker’s 25th Anniversary Bourbon deserves all the hype and fandom it’s received over the years and to this day is one of the releases I kick myself over not having picked up. I saw three bottles of it on the shelf at MRSP and thought “I’ll get it later”… I want to slap my slightly younger self. Seriously.
The aroma is dense and rustic with a huge dollop of baking spices and dark sweets. The palate continues that tannic rustic theme and brings some farmhouse notes with the huge oak and grain and leather forward delivery. The finish being the perfect unity of the two. The Booker’s 25th Anniversary Bourbon is some epic whiskey and if I could I’d give a glass to every bourbon nerd out there so we could toast to the legacy of Booker Noe together.
SCORE: 93/100 (A)
A big thanks to Nate for the sample
