Hannah’s Booker’s 2019-01 “Teresa’s Batch” Review
Original review written December 17, 2019
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
My first Booker’s review, but certainly not my first Booker’s, Teresa’s Batch fits with the bunch well. A good pick for those who like the drier, dark spirits. 90/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam; Master Distiller: Fred Noe
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 6 yrs. 3 mo. 1 day
– Mash Bill: Corn=77%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: New charred oak; undisclosed char
– Barrel Entry Proof: undisclosed; Cask Strength; Non-Chill Filtered
– ABV: 62.95% (125.9 proof)
– Price: $84.95 USD in Idaho
– From Master Distiller notes: This batch is made up of barrels from three production dates, aged in nine different locations within four warehouses (WH)
28%: 5th floor of 9-story WH J
25%: 5th floor of 9-story WH E
25%: 6th floor of 9-story WH E
10%: 6th floor of 9-story WH D
3%: 4th floor of 9-story WH E
3%: 6th floor of 9-story WH J
3%: 8th floor of 9-story WH J
2%: 2nd floor of 7-story WH 5
1%: 4th floor of 7-story WH 5
Visit bookersbourbon.com for more information
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
This is a brilliant bourbon for sitting in an old theater, majestic red curtains pulled back to put on a breathtaking show. With Teresa’s Batch, the production is perfect and you go home satisfied and with a smile.
Photo by Peter Lewicki on Unsplash
NOSE:
Thick vanilla custard greets the nose, along with buttery pecans. For being so high proof, there is a surprising mellowness that makes this spirit easy to nose and enjoy. On deeper inhales, I find a pleasant tingle, but it doesn’t hurt. For spice, I find both nutmeg and white pepper, with the white pepper being slightly higher in concentration. Plums occupy the fruit category, being all sweet with little to no tartness. At the tail end of the plum, I detect a single cherry, again, not tart at all. Overall, the nose is rich, warm, and very inviting.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Dry, but in the sense that many of the flavors are dried.
– Balance: Solid. There’s a pinch of brightness to contrast the dark well.
– Visual: Burnt amber in color, there is a suspended crown, as the legs drop quickly.
– Taste: The plums carry over from the nose, along with the pecans. The fruit isn’t juicy, rather dried to become prunes. Nevertheless, it is enjoyable, especially since it is accompanied by the classic Booker’s Bourbon warmth that surrounds the prunes and all other flavors. Subtle pepper begins to bloom, bringing with it dark chocolate and maple candies. The sweets here combine for an almost toffee effect, but not quite. I also find a wood element, but I wouldn’t say oak, maybe a bit more cedar.
With a Kentucky chew, the alcohol naturally is stronger, but the prune comes more forward, mixing with the cherry on the nose and a sprinkle of orange zest. Behind the fruits is a darker and more sinister leather. Still, chew a 126 proof bourbon at your own risk.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Medium-long. The flavors stick around longer than the overall warmth.
– Between Sips: Along with the orange zest that won’t go away after my Kentucky chew, I find buttered popcorn! A strange combination, but I’m actually liking it!
– No More: The essence of the the corn (not in the popped state) is more apparent the further I get, exacerbated by my craving for popcorn. Otherwise, it seems that the increase in warmth is most notable.
The empty Glencairn is a mellow oak, soft and absolutely ready to give you a Kentucky hug with its warmth.
WORTH THE PRICE?
I would buy it again at this price, but I will say that I think other varieties of Booker’s provide a better value, such as Kitchen Table.
RATING: 90/100
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