Booker’s Bourbon Tommy’s Batch is the first Booker’s batch of 2017 and thankfully it does’t carry a $100+ price tag like they had originally planned. The price on it has gone up a bit, but not the astronomical, nearly-double, that was originally proposed before everyone on the internet lost their collective shit, myself included, about it.
In Jim Beam’s Words: Booker’s Bourbon Tommy’s Batch
“I selected this batch with the help of Tommy himself, the Booker’s Roundtable and a select group of whiskey experts and writers. The batch consisted of two production dates aged in three different warehouses. The breakdown of the barrel locations is as follows:
41% came from the 6th floor of the 9 story warehouse E
13% came from the 6th floor of the 9 story warehouse H
46% came from the 7th floor of the 9 story warehouse D”
Being the first batch released after the controversy, Booker’s Bourbon Tommy’s Batch has a lot riding its shoulders. Will it be worth the price hike or will the cask-crunch they’ve ben talking about rear its head and be a lesser product? So many questions to answer in the review below.
Booker’s Bourbon Tommy’s Batch Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Jim Beam
Mashbill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 6 years, 4 months and 6 days
ABV: 64.25%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Batch: 2017-01
Price: $75*
Booker’s Bourbon Tommy’s Batch Review
EYE
Ruddy caramel
NOSE
Corn, dried strawberries, oak, yeasty biscuits, vanilla, butterscotch and clove. Water brings out more peanuts and spice, but it doesn’t enhance the richness much.
PALATE
Dried dark fruit, oak, cinnamon, peanuts, toffee, vanilla, biscuits and a bit of spice. Water opens the palate a bit, but doesn’t bring anything new to the table.
FINISH
Long and oak driven with speckles of dark fruit, grain, toffee and peanuts.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Ok balance, rich round body and a heavy velvety feel.
OVERALL
Booker’s Bourbon Tommy’s Batch is… well… it’s the first batch of Booker’s I’ve been a bit let down by. It’s still a good punchy bourbon, it just doesn’t come through as richly as every other batch of Booker’s I’ve had before. The best part of the whiskey is the palate for sure, but the nose and finsh fall a bit flat and I find myself wanting more out of it.
Is it still good? Yes. Is it something I’m reaching for when I get home? Once my other Booker’s run out it might be, but not until then. Booker’s will undoubtedly put out some great batches during the rest of the year, but this one isn’t fully doing it for me. I’m more than a 1/4 way through the bottle and still haven’t had that “Booker’s moment” of pure sweet and oaky bourbon satisfaction. Good thing I still have some of that Noe Secret left.
SCORE: 86/100 (B)
*Disclosure: This Booker's Bourbon Tommy's 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.
