Aged for 6 years, 7 months and 7 days and bottled at 63.65% ABV, this is the third release from Beam as an entry into the Booker’s portfolio, titled “Pigskin Batch”.
If this whiskey defies expectations at all it’s on the finish, where some greener elements and ample red pepper pop, giving the whiskey a bittersweet quality that ultimately comes across as fairly rustic, even with water. A fair enough bourbon, though.
This heady, full-bodied bruiser of a whiskey could easily pair with Sunday snack food like nachos, sliders or wings, and is probably best enjoyed with a big cube of ice. Helmet optional.
Like 2020’s Little Book Chapter 4, Pigskin Batch leans heavily on a cinnamon note, but is a bit more rough around the edges and slightly less satisfying as a result.
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House Review
Nose:
Pungent caramel, tobacco, fresh praline and cinnamon. A bit more tobacco in this release than 20-02.
Taste:
Thick on the palate, rich mouth feel. Honey, pepper, fudge, caramel and peanut brittle. Much more balanced than 20-02 and delivers a really powerful experience for this barrel proofer.
Finish:
Long finish. A bit of heat here, but nothing too punishing. Caramel, peanut butter cups, toffee and pepper.
Overall:
I really like this batch, especially compared to previous batches in the same vintage. This one embodies so much richness, it’s hard not to love.
Score:
88
By t8ke
Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources
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