Booker’s Blue Knights Batch is the second of the 2017 Booker’s releases. Booker’s has always been among my favorite bourbons because of its rich dense oaky profile so it’s something I always look forward to trying. While a cask strength / barrel proof bourbon isn’t entirely unique in the category anymore it is still fairly rare in the grand scheme of things. It’s the closest thing to getting it straight out of the cask yourself.
In Jim Beam’s Words: Booker’s Blue Knights Batch
“Booker’s Blue Knights Batch is culled from barrels from four different production dates located in four different warehouses. The nose is sweet with vanilla notes, mixed with wood from the white oak barrels. The mingling aromas and tastes from different barrels makes this a great, well balanced batch.”
Here’s where it all came from.
- 2% from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse ONE
- 38% from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse D
- 33% from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse F
- 27% from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse J
And with that let’s get on with the Booker’s Blue Knights Batch review!
Booker’s Blue Knights Batch Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Jim Beam
Mashbill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 6 years 3 months 6 Days
ABV: 63.7%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Batch: 2017-02
Price: $75*
Booker’s Blue Knights Batch Review
EYE
Caramel
NOSE
Oak roasted peanuts; layers of dark fruit, baking spice, cocoa, toffee, leather and a bit of maple and an herbal character. Pleasant.
PALATE
Oak roasted peanuts; layers of cinnamon, dark fruit, cocoa, leather, toffee, clove, brown sugar and a light herbal character. Also pleasant.
FINISH
Long slow drive of oak, peanuts, brown sugar, clove and an herbal spice.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Nicely balanced, full body and a heavy oily feel.
OVERALL
Booker’s Blue Knights Batch is perfectly pleasant. Lately I’ve been coming home, pouring a glass and relaxing after a long hard day of working for the internet. It’s something I’m more than happy to sniff, sip and enjoy. In short, I like it.
It has a dominating character of peanuts roasted over oak with some wonderful dark fruit and dark sweets coming through as secondary layers. With some water the herbal character gets a bit stronger but no massive shift occur. Booker’s Blue Knights Batch is just… nice.
SCORE: 87/100 (B+)
*Disclosure: This Booker's Blue Knights Batch was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.