The third Booker's release of 2021, this is titled "Bardstown Batch." Aged for 6 years and 5 months, it's released at 125.5 proof and can typically be found around the $100 mark.
It’s absolutely not lacking in character, and it strikes me as a step or two outside of the very traditional Beam flavor profile, while still being recognizable.
Adding water to the 2021-03 brings out more peanut notes and more baking spice especially on the aroma. On the palate the same rise up a bit, but do so against a growing biscuity background. All of which is delivered on a heavy, but always balanced, slab of oak.
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House Review
Nose:
Bold and creamy on the nose - tons of apple pie, baking spice, roasted peanuts, candied almonds and a wallop of cocoa, caramel and creme brûlée. There's plenty of ethanol here but also plenty of character and oak.
Taste:
Rich on the palate. A touch hot, but not punishing, and there's plenty of oak and complexity to balance nicely. Sweet cream, honey roasted peanuts, caramelized sugar, creme brulee and a prickle of ethanol. Less oak here than other batches but plenty enough to carry. Blends bold syrupy mouthfeel nicely with that caramelized sugar and dessert note. Vanilla bean on the back palate.
Finish:
Long finish, a touch hot but packed with character. Sweet cream, prickle of ethanol, light oak, caramel candies and roasted pecans. Maple and honey.
Overall:
Overall, this is nice but can't touch the greatness of other Booker's batches in this year's releases.