Review #311 - Booker's 2021-04 'Noe Strangers Batch'
One of Jim Beam's many brands: Booker's, which is bourbon that's bottled at barrel proof and released a few times per year (generally 4 times in recent years). This batch, the last from 2021, is named the 'Noe Strangers Batch,' which is a reference to Booker Noe, famed previous master distiller at Jim Beam (and creator of the Booker's brand), and his social nature, which quickly turned any stranger into a friend.
This batch was bottled at 62.2% ABV (124.4 proof), and on the brand's website, we get some interesting information about the makeup of the batch:
3% came from the 2nd floor of 9-story warehouse H
27% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse D
39% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse J
31% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Q
We do get age statements on Booker's products, and specific statements at that: the youngest barrels in 'Noe Strangers Batch' were aged for precisely 6 years, 6 months, and 12 days. Age statements will vary for the releases - we've seen some as low as 6 years, and others as old as 10 years (not including the legendary 13+ year old rye).
Booker's 2021-04 'Noe Strangers Batch'
USA - Bourbon
Current Locally Available Price: USD 130 (2024)
Age Statement: 6 Years
Strength: 62.2% ABV
Details: Batch 2021-04
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 7 months; bottles at 60% and 100% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Starts out sweeter: vanilla, brown sugar, and a bit of creme brulee or burnt sugar. There are more mature notes, as well: hints of tobacco smoke and leather, along with almond and hazelnut. Hints of cherries, maybe dark Luxardo cherries, and later on, a bit of dark chocolate; oak notes grow stronger with time.
Palate: Packs a punch, warm and spicy on the lips, and a decent oak presence. All sorts of sweeter notes arrive quickly: maple syrup, red fruit, and brown sugar. Then, it's lots of spice: hot cinnamon, smoked paprika and oaky tannins. Occasionally, there are subtle flavors of wood smoke, and then we get the characteristic Beam nutty flavors, like toasted peanut and nutmeg. The mouthfeel is medium-thick.
Finish: A long finish, warm the whole way, with plenty of oak, though it isn't overdone. A bit of puckering in the cheeks from tannins, and after some sweet cherries and strawberry candies, we get hints of chocolate syrup, vanilla, and caramel. Sweet notes begin to trail off, leaving space for pepper and cayenne spice.
Final Note: Quite a nice bourbon. That strength does bring a good oily texture, but it also drinks a bit hot; it has some of the classic Jim Beam nutty notes, but also that nice cherry and tobacco on the nose and finish, at times. This was our first introduction to the Booker's series, and it seems like a solid starting point. Nice spice as well - this is anything but a dull whisky.
In terms of value, it's not as clear-cut... new Booker's releases at MSRP aren't cheap, but they are solid cask strength bourbons. When searching for an older release, the prices only go up, and these releases aren't always widely available, either.
Our Average Rating: 7.3 / 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: 5.45
