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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