Bourbon Whiskey Archives – Page 41 of 79

Bookers 2020-03 Pigskin Batch

Posted on 27-March-202128-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Bookers 2020-03 Pigskin Batch Review:

24-March-2021

BOOKERS 2020-03 PIGSKIN BATCH REVIEW:

While I know taste is subjective, for me Booker’s Pigskin Batch is so much better than its sibling, Boston Batch. This bourbon is dark and seductive. Because of its well blended aroma of blueberries, brown sugar caramel and spiced barrel char, I took too much in on my second sip, gave a quick swish and swallowed. I was rewarded with one of the most fiery Kentucky Hugs I can recall; my own fault for sure. After adding a few drops of water, I feel Pigskin Batch smells and tastes just fine without the aid. With renewed respect, I enjoyed this fine bourbon.

BOOKERS 2020-03 PIGSKIN BATCH BOURBON VITAL STATS:

Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Jim Beam, Master Distiller Fred Noe
Classification: Small Batch Bourbon
Small Batch: 2020-03 Pigskin Batch
Mash bill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Casks: New Charred Oak
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel Entry Proof: 125
Age: 6 Years, 7 months, 7 days
ABV: 63.65% (127.3 Proof)

MASTER DISTILLER NOTES

Booker’s 2020-03 Pigskin Batch is made up of barrels from two production dates that were aged in five different rackhouse locations:

▪32% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse X
▪27% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse M
▪15% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse H
▪14% came from the 6th floor of 7-story warehouse L
▪12% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Z

LABEL INSPIRATION

The third release of the Booker’s Bourbon 2020 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2020-03 Pigskin Batch. It’s a nod to my dad Booker Noe’s love of American football, which eventually became a whole family affair, especially during the holiday season.

Dad was a big guy – standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and close to 300 pounds. He was quick for his size and strong from working as a farm hand growing up, so he played both tackle and kicker in his high school days. Dad was even talented enough to practice with the football team when he attended the University of Kentucky. Although he never made a college career of it, some people thought he could’ve been pretty good if he did.

Years later, when my son Freddie came along and started to show interest in playing football, Dad would set up goal posts for him in the backyard. Countless hours we spent kicking and throwing the football around, and when we weren’t, we were watching our favorite team on TV (or any good game, really).

Anyone who knew Dad knew his love of football, and it’s safe to say he made it a true Noe family tradition. I hope you enjoy this latest batch alongside close family and friends.

— Fred Noe, Beam Family 7th Generation Master Distiller

To learn more about Booker’s visit www.bookersbourbon.com.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, alternate amounts, equaling about 4 ounces, were poured into two Glencairns after 1.5 ounces were removed from a newly opened bottle and added to our Infinity Bottle. The bourbon was then assessed with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

BOOKERS 2020-03 PIGSKIN BATCH NOSE:

No aroma sprang from the bottle upon first uncorking. I worked the Glencairn with deep draws, often with eyes closed. Booker’s Pigskin Batch gives me a little alcohol burn and each time my eyes opened, they watered in defense. There is a potpourri of herbal dry field corn and a slight grassiness. Continued nosing brings on a nice nectar of blueberry, dark currants and soft prunes blended with allspice, faint cinnamon, nutmeg and rye. Rich dark vanilla adds its sweetness to burnt and woody brown sugar caramel and toasted peanut dark toffee. While I wouldn’t consider this wood forward, I do get dry spicy toasted oak, and smoky sweet barrel char along with layered old harness leather.

BOOKERS 2020-03 PIGSKIN BATCH PALATE:

Pigskin Batch can come on strong – be forewarned, it can and will hug the unwary. As on the nose, I tasted herbal dry field corn, hay and the blueberry-fruit concoction is now served hot (no doubt owing to the fiery hug I’d just been given). Currants and prunes are in the mix as are spices of warm ginger, black pepper and rye. The vanilla is now diminished as is the burnt woody caramel, but I do get faint chocolate mixed in a toasted cashew dark toffee. Yet the dry and spicy toasted oak, smoky sweet barrel char and old harness leather remains.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
2020-03 Pigskin Batch is a solid well blended pour. Once the mouth is acclimated, its viscous oiliness is easy to hold at length. In the Glencairn the liquid falls in sheets then breaks into fast falling legs after each sip and an irregularly formed crown remains above the mahogany colored pool.

BOOKERS 2020-03 PIGSKIN BATCH FINISH:

Booker’s 2020-03 Pigskin Batch has a long throat warming finish of herbal field corn. Currants and prunes fade in and out of spices of black pepper and rye. Only a trace of sweetness remains as its dry spicy toasted oak, hazy barrel char and leather dominate and linger on. The empty Glencairn has all the aromas sensed on the palate and nose.

THE ADDITION OF WATER

Water can often tame big, bold whiskeys and the addition of 2-4 drops will not radically drop the proof of the pour. Rather, water may help open the spirit allowing the aromas and flavors to bloom. So, three evenings after the initial tasting, water was added to Booker’s Pigskin Batch in controlled amounts to learn its effect.

I added two drops of distilled water to 1.5 ounces of Booker’s 2020-03 lowering the ABV by a negligible 0.29%. The alcohol is still prevalent on the nose as is the dry field corn and blueberry, currant and soft prune nectar. The spice blend seems diminished but the vanilla and brown sugar caramel still dance with dry toasted oak and barrel char. To my palate, two drops of water don’t seem to have much of an effect. All the flavors noted in the neat pour can still be detected. If anything, the spices of warm ginger and black pepper seem to compliment and may enhance the sweetness making it more caramelly, but I may be reaching. For me, two drops of water have little impact on Pigskin Batch.

After the two drop sample was downed, four drops of distilled water were added to another 1.5 ounces of Booker’s 2020-03. This time the ABV was lowered by about 0.58%, again seemingly an insignificant amount. To the nose, the alcohol is diminished as are aromas of corn, fruit and spice, yet the sweet and oak remain. Four drops soften the mouthfeel of whiskey slightly, but the flavors seem to get washed out. Note they’re all still around, but they are much harder to distinguish. In my opinion, adding water to Booker’s 2020-03 Pigskin Batch lessens its quality.

MY BOOKERS 2020-03 PIGSKIN BATCH RATING: 89/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
I always seek and purchase Booker’s products regardless of previous batch ratings.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 89/100 to access other whiskeys with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Booker’s.

BOOKERS 2020-03 PIGSKIN BATCH TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Old Forester 1910 Bourbon Review

Posted on 23-March-202129-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Old Forester 1910 Bourbon Review

Original review written March 16, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

This is unlike any other Brown-Forman product I have ever had, but 1910 easily skyrockets into one of my new favorite bourbons, and I look forward to having it again. 91/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Brown-Forman Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=72%; Rye=18%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 46.5% (93 proof)
– Price: $54.95 USD in Idaho

Visit brown-forman.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I’d love to take Old Forester 1910 with me into the mountains when I go fishing. There’s an essence of my favorite river in this bourbon, and sitting on the banks while the sun comes up, surrounded by bubbling water and animals waking up sounds picturesque with this bourbon. Consider it a new goal of mine!

Photo taken by WftA editor, Hannah Dawson

NOSE:

This has rich notes of earth, but especially vanilla on the first draws, with the whole sensation giving off an incredibly warm tone. Deep inhales make for a caramel, molasses, or maple candy treat, and perhaps a bit of pastry. There is not much in the way of fruit, though it’s possible that a dark stone fruit like figs or prunes is coming through a little. Not much spice, and certainly not a heavy alcohol presence either. The wood is old here, but it almost seems a bit like pine as opposed to oak. It’s as though I am in a pine forest, and there is a bit of smokiness from a nearby campfire – there is a definite smoky element here.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: VERY oily. It’s honestly such a joy to have at the tip of the tongue, I actually tend to forget that I need to swallow.
– Balance: Not necessarily complex, but definitely solid and just rich and deep. Never a bad thing.
– Visual: This is terracotta pot in color, and it’s a pot that has been certainly fired, as it is very brown in tint. The crown reminds me a lot of Roman arches, with evenly spaced, but thick legs dropping at a snail’s pace down the glass.

– Taste: The first sips don’t want to offer up any distinguishing flavors, but it is definitely rich and deep in body. It’s almost as though I’m eating a caramel dipped apple, but the apple is soft and offers mostly just a base for the caramel to take its leap. There is a bit of brown sugar, and maybe some maple, but I have to really be looking for these flavors. I think the pastry element from the nose is also present, and it acts like the oak in many other bourbons, meaning it seems to bind everything together very seamlessly.

Other fruit could be figs or dates, but they are dark and very subdued behind this sweet, (yet somehow, not surgary) profile. The alcohol is non-existent to an experienced whiskey drinker, but even as someone who enjoys high proof, I find this absolutely delectable.

A Kentucky chew kicks up the pastry and figs, and it’s just enjoyable overall.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. There’s a bit of warmth, and a bit of a lingering flavor, but they aren’t ridiculously strong.
– Between Sips: The apple from that caramel apple makes a return between sips, along with a bit of pine and oak.

– No More: This stays quite consistent throughout the glass, and is really just such a sheer joy to drink and have just sit on the tongue. The depth and richness are such a highlight of this bourbon; I love it.

The empty Glencairn smells like pastry, chocolate, and figs. Very new aromas for an empty glass, but still very welcome and enjoyable.

WORTH THE PRICE?

Being 93 proof and only $5 cheaper than Old Forester 1920 (which is 115 proof), I can understand hesitation to pick up a bottle. However, this is incredibly enjoyable with rich, dark tones that I can see myself very easily reaching for this again. Definitely give it a try!

RATING: 91/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 91/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Old Forester.

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Hannah’s Whiskey Reviews
Whiskey Reviews

Old Forester 1910 Bourbon

Posted on 22-March-202115-August-2023 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Old Forester 1910 Bourbon Review:

16-March-2021

OLD FORESTER 1910 BOURBON REVIEW:

Old Forester 1910 Bourbon as its name suggests, is “Old Fine Whiskey”. While only a few elements of fruit or spice come through on each sip, 1910 is sweet, but not in the sugary sense. It’s more of a dark sweetness, which for me is about perfect. I found this bourbon is easy to hold in my mouth and after several Kentucky Chews, I had to remind myself to swallow so I could savor the taste. For people who like a smoky oak barrel bomb: buy, Buy, BUY! (And pick up another bottle for the bunker as well.)

OLD FORESTER 1910 VITAL STATS:

Category: Straight Bourbon
Region: Kentucky, USA
Company: Brown-Forman
Distillery: Brown-Forman Shively Distillery
Mash Bill: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel entry proof: 125
Second Barreling Proof: 100
Age: nas
ABV: 46.5% (93 Proof)
Purchase Price: $54.95 USD (2020 – Idaho)

Read the full story at 1910 Old Fine Whisky.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, I enjoyed a neat pour in a Glencairn from a newly opened bottle with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

OLD FORESTER 1910 BOURBON NOSE:

When first I popped the Old Forester 1910 cork, I got a faint hit of citrus but little if any alcohol to offend the nose. Upon taking the first sniff, my nose picked up that faint but now bitter citrus along with a trace of herbalness. I also got another fruit; faint, like a scrap of raisin stuck to the inside of an empty SUN-MAID snack box. The spices are scant as well, just a bit of clove and rye.

1910’s sweetness is of simple caramelized sugar, and nearly burnt dark molasses. But in this nectar, it’s the second barreling which shines. Heavy, old oak, hazy toasted wood, and sweet smoky barrel char abound. As I breath in, I am reminded of oak charcoal smoke, like one might get when opening the door of a smoker or smokehouse well into its duties. 1910’s smoky darkness melds into musty leather as a slight peatiness springs from the Glencairn. 1910 just smells good.

OLD FORESTER 1910 BOURBON PALATE:

As on the nose Old Forester 1910’s 46.5% ABV does not assert in the mouth. This is sippin’ whiskey at its finest. It warms and the herbal aroma comes through as taste buds detect faint apple enriched pipe tobacco. And while faint, figs and dates are mix with warm spices of clove, ginger, pepper and rye. Just like on the nose, the sweetness here is tempered, like faint chocolate cream and burnt dark molasses rather than sugary. After each sip I had to remind myself to swallow so I could sense and enjoy each muted flavor. In the mouth, woodiness mirrors the old oak aromatics of hazy, toasted wood, and the smoky sweet barrel char balances with musty and earthy leather. This is a good bourbon.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
The fist sip of Old Forester 1910 is nearly perfect. I love its rich smoothness and viscous oiliness. 1910 is easy to hold and visually, it is just as thick in the Glencairn. Fat legs return the liquid to the dark burnt amber pool leaving a lingering and evenly spaced inverted crown.

OLD FORESTER 1910 BOURBON FINISH:

If there is fault with Old Forester 1910, it would be in its short finish; although each waft and sip begs another. As I reflect, my throat is warmed with memories of tobacco, rye, dark sweets and heavy oak, hazy, toasted wood, and smoky sweet barrel char. And when the glass is emptied (all too soon I might add), the scent of a working smokehouse remains.

MY OLD FORESTER 1910 BOURBON RATING: 91/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
When I want earthy depth and sweet smoke in a bourbon, I’ll be reaching for 1910.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 91/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Old Forester.

OLD FORESTER 1910 BOURBON TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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