Review #507 - Little Book Chapter 7: 'In Retrospect'
An annual limited release from the Jim Beam distillery, Little Book is a blend of whiskies, often of different types. This seventh chapter, bottled in 2023, includes 7 different components: 1 from each of the previous 6 Little Book releases (hence the Retrospect), as well as a new 7th component.
While this blend does technically have a 4 year age statement based on the youngest whisky in the bottle, that doesn't tell nearly the whole story. Jim Beam gives us a full breakdown of the whiskies that Freddie Noe combined to create this blend:
18 year old bourbon
17 year old bourbon
10 year old rye
9 year old bourbon
5 year old malt whisky finished in Applewood smoked barrels
4 year old bourbon
4 year old rye
There's quite a lot going on - how will all of those pieces combine into a cohesive tasting experience?
Little Book Chapter 7: 'In Retrospect'
USA - Blend
Available Price: USD 200 (2025)
Age Statement: 4 Years
Strength: 59.05% ABV
Details: Bottled 2023
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle 40% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Wood smoke, herbs, and a bit of grain to start - that's followed by spice from anise and black pepper. Some heat does show on the nose; then, subtle sweetness arrives from pear syrup. It's prickly, subtly nutty, and we get more scents of eucalyptus.
Palate: The mouthfeel is thick - the texture on this is amazing, so rich. Quite a bit of dry oak to start, but that's followed by almonds, strong tobacco, cinnamon, and black pepper. Molasses and brown sugar bring more sweetness, and with time, we get a combination of dark chocolate and mint; the whole experience is quite intense.
Finish: Quite warm - that heat lasts a while. Smoky oak lingers around the palate, even barbecued oak; the wood notes begin to take over. The texture from the palate lingers, and it's a medium-long finish.
Final Note: This is a very interesting blend - so many flavors that aren't common to find in American whiskies, especially together. It's definitely spicy and oaky predominantly, but there were so many intricate layers woven in from the different spirit types and those Applewood smoked barrels used on the malt whisky. Texture is outstanding - one of the best parts of the whole experience.
This is a limited release and therefore not easy to find, and prices seem to be adjusted accordingly in our area and online. Because of that higher cost, the value is a little below average.
Our Average Rating: 8.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.47
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other reviews of Booker-related releases:
