Booker's Batches ?

I have yet to taste a bad batch of Booker's. I heard of one that was a bit younger than usual that was a bit harsh...was it 2016?

I have tried three of the six 2015 releases and all were excellent. and I enjoyed the -01 the most.

@Jonesz The latest batches are aged 6 years and plus months. Older versions are 7 years plus. That said most Bookers are a quality Bourbon. Here in Ontario the price is up to $85. The LCBO still shows Abunadh batch 35 from stock pictures so don't be discouraged by that. You really cannot go wrong with Booker's and or Baker's. Bourbons. Booker's price's have gone up in he US as well

My latest bottle as dumped in 2015 and is very nice, swims well too.

@Astroke @Nozinan Thanx for the info. I am thinking that these ones may be a little older than 2015. Bourbon not being a fast mover here in Manitoba. Will let you know what I find when I "get into town". Most reviews I see here are high 80's to low 90's. Thinking I can't go too far wrong. Just saw one very low review posted and wondered about batches of lesser quality ala A'Bunadh batches etc.

I'm confident all Booker's is great Booker's. When I bought my bottle I just looked for the one with the highest ABV.

@Frost I am going to go with that thought as I don't have much choice anyway. Looks like about 10 bottles left in our entire province and I want to get one or two before either they run out and discontinue or restock at a higher price. Seems like they almost follow Ontario price increases and the newer Booker's is about $20 higher per bottle there.

So the two that were available are Batches 2014-05 and 2015 -05 so I picked up one of each. Hoping that they are a GOOD representation of bourbon, if not speak up before happy hour tonight or forever hold your piece as at least one will be open. Sort of wondered about the 2014-05 as there is only one review on Whiskeybase and that was only an 82 and not in my language.

@Jonesz, Booker's is most certainly a good bourbon, but it is certainly not going to be representative of typical bourbon among those who are not used to drinking 64% ABV whiskey.

@Victor Yes I appreciate your thought. I do drink most of my scotches neat and that includes Cairdeas, A'Bunadh, Valinch etc. I will start in with a bit of my first dram of Booker's neat just for the experience but will likely tame it after that with a teaspoon or two of water to my taste. Looking forward to this one. Did try Knob Creek 9 YO SB a year or two ago and didn't add water at all and couldn't get used to it. Our mutual friend in Sudbury became the owner of the last half of the bottle. Hope he doesn't get any of my Booker's!!

@Jonesz I find the Knob Creek SB to be easier drinking than Booker's, but that Booker's tends to have more depth. I've only had 2 bottles of KCSB and about 8 different bottles of Booker's. 2014-05 is a good batch. I have a bottle of 2015-05, but it is not opened. The best batch of 2015 that I have tasted is the 2015-04. It is one of the finest bourbons i have ever had.

I can still find Booker's for $40 USD. I consider it to be the best deal in Barrel Proof bourbon.

@newreverie Glad to hear re the 2014-05 being a good batch. Likely going to start with the 2015-05 because I know I can replace it if I like it. There is only two more bottles of the 2014-05 so kind of iffy. Count down is on re the Grand Opening at 5PM. But it has to be 5 O'clock somewhere right? BTW Booker's is $72.36 Cdn out the door (including tax) as of now but likely to go up. That is currently about $56 US. I see that it is currently $54 in Az at Total Wine where we like to spend the winter so not too much of a gouge here yet.

@Jonesz Your friend in Sudbury is lucky to live closer to you. I recently retried my KCSB to convince myself if I should get some before it loses it's 9YO statement. I would rarely reach for it if I have a bottle of Booker's around, but it opens up nicely in the glass and I made the decision to go ahead. Can't always go for the same flavours.

Your friend from the big Nickel has not had the opportunity to try 3 different 2015 releases of Booker's, though he may not have had a chance to completely analyse them. My suspicion is he would gladly relieve your burden and I would be a happy backup. Of course, there's plenty to go around so I would prefer you like it and maybe one day we can enjoy some together...

Hi all So opened the 2015-05 during Happy Hour commencement. I am very pleased. The mouth feel is luxurious and I often describe A'Bunadh as decadent, this dram also fills the bill. Besides the usual suspects eg. Caramel/Toffee, Vanilla etc. I also get some Orange/Dark Chocolate and Spice. This is a very enjoyable whiskey. To be honest I tried this release Neat but then found that to really enjoy it had to add 3 teaspoons to a two oz. pour. There will not be any farming out of remaining bottle portions. I hope one day to be able to join all the folks that respond to my seemingly neophyte questions in enjoying a similar dram. That includes all who have responded to this topic.@Nozinan @Astroke @Frost @Victor @ Newreverie. @paddockjudge Have a GR8 evening, I am. Jonesz

@Jonesz, I'm joining you with a sip of 2015-05, courtesy of the highly resourceful @ Nozinan. This batch reminds me of a humbug (boiled sweets).

@paddockjudge Never knew what Ralfy meant by boiled sweets. Enjoy. I've had two largish portions of Booker's and am now ready for an after dinner snooze.

@paddockjudge @Jonesz Glad you two can enjoy a very nice dram. I really liked the -05, maybe even better than the -04, which I need to spend more time with.

Sadly tonight I will only dream of Booker's, given my current state of being on-call.

@Jonesz Glad you enjoy it. I have unopened bottles of all six 2015 releases that I am saving for the Texas whiskey summit next year.

@newreverie

That shows extreme self control...

or you have extras...

@Jonesz boiled sweets are one of the joys of growing up in the UK, pear drops, cola cubes and lime eclairs( lime boiled sweet around chocolate centre) were my favourites.

Any whisk(e)y flavours in those 3 anyone?

@SKEPTIC I have so much bourbon in the house it is hard to even notice the unopened bottles. I always have one opened bottle of Booker's and when it finishes, i can pick up another at the store without a fuss. That said there are a few bottles here and there that have taken tremendous amounts of self control not to open. Some of those are reserved for the September Whiskey Summit in New Mexico.

@Pete1969 Actually the 2015 EH Taylor Barrel Proof that I opened last night sits right on top of that flavor profile. A perfect chocolate citrus sour-sweet candy.

@paddockjudge Can't get the "HUMBUG" out of my mind and revisited the 2015-05 this evening. HUMBUG. You were spot on with that call. Even my Mrs who always had humbugs on the coffee table as a treat in her growing years agrees.

Hey Y'all revisited the 2015-05 this evening. GR8 stuff IMHO 2 oz pour with 3 Teaspoons of water. Mellow. I may become a bourbon drinker after all. Thanx fpr all the replies. Jonesz