Bookers Bourbon Archives – Whiskey for the Ages

Booker’s 2022-03 Kentucky Tea Batch

Posted on 02-October-202302-October-2023 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Booker’s 2022-03 Kentucky Tea Batch Review:

reviewed 27-September-2023

BOOKERS 2022-03 KENTUCKY TEA BATCH BOURBON REVIEW:

The presence of alcohol and ethanol are apparent in the first wafts and sips of Booker’s 2022-03 Kentucky Tea Batch (Kentucky Tea). Red berries, dark cherry, plum, and raisins along with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg also greet the nose and palate as do caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, and wood notes. Best of all, I taste the Booker’s funk of peanuts and peanut toffee mixed in oak, toasted wood, and char. This is a delicious pour and I will gladly have another.

BOOKERS 2022-03 KENTUCKY TEA BATCH VITAL STATS:

Category: Small Batch Bourbon
Region: Clermont, Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Jim Beam, Master Distiller Fred Noe
Small Batch: 2022-03 Kentucky Tea Batch
Mash bill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Casks: New Charred Oak
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel Entry Proof: 125
Age: 7 years, 4 month, 14 days
ABV: 63.25% (126.5 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 16906
Fair Price: $115.42 (BoozApp, August 2023)
Paid: $89.95 (Idaho, Sep 2022)
Availability: Allocated, limited, released 3rd quarter 2022

MASTER DISTILLER NOTES

The batch is made up of six production dates that were aged in six different warehouses. The breakdown of barrel storage for Booker’s “Kentucky Tea Batch” is as follows:

2% came from the 3rd floor of 7-story warehouse 5
1% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse X
1% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse D
12% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse 1
24% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Q
14% came from the 6th floor of 7-story warehouse Q
46% came from the 6th floor of 7-story warehouse Z

This batch was pulled on a hot and humid day in July. The color of this liquid is golden amber, and you embrace the dark, sweet vanilla aroma right away. With just one taste, your mouth is filled with rich and sweet flavors of vanilla. The lingering finish isn’t overpowering, so soon after you’ll want another sip. I made myself a Kentucky Tea with Kentucky Tea Batch, and it brought back memories of my dad sitting at his own kitchen table enjoying his Kentucky Tea with supper.

LABEL INSPIRATION

The third release of the Booker’s® Bourbon 2022 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2022-03 “Kentucky Tea Batch.” While some may flavor their water with tea leaves, my dad, Booker Noe, loved to flavor his water with bourbon – something he called Kentucky Tea.

As you can imagine, Dad loved the flavor of bourbon, especially his Booker’s Bourbon. Since Booker’s is over 100 proof, the flavor still pulls through when added to water. So, he’d take one part bourbon and four parts water and enjoy his drink. One night, when a reporter was at Dad’s house for supper, he asked why Dad drank Kentucky Tea. Dad quickly replied, “Why would I flavor my water with tea leaves when I can flavor my water with bourbon?” It was that simple – Kentucky Tea was Dad’s drink. He would drink it with a country ham or fish dinner and would say you need to sip the right proportion of Kentucky Tea to really appreciate the food.

As you sip this batch, add a taste of it to your water so you can try Dad’s Kentucky Tea with “Kentucky Tea Batch.” I know that’s how he would’ve liked it. Cheers!
— Fred Noe, Beam Family 7th Generation Master Distiller

Learn more at Booker’s Bourbon.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

On Day 27 of the 2023 30 Bourbons in 30 Days Challenge, the first one and a half ounces of a newly opened bottle mixed with the bourbon in our Infinity Bottle Project. Then, by alternating the pours, four once review amounts went into a Glencairn and a Weck. After posting on social media, my daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat as I prepared this review. About 30 minutes had gone by before my first sip.

BOOKERS 2022-03 KENTUCKY TEA BATCH NOSE:

The first inhale of Booker’s 2022-03 Kentucky Tea Batch, greets warmly, accompanied by subtle alcohol and a manageable kick of ethanol. Within the blend, a medley blossoms, roasted corn, and the sweet aroma of a roadside fruit stand springs from the glass. I get ed berries, apples dipped in caramel, sweet cherries, a subtle hint of plum, and a mix of gourmet red and yellow raisins, mingling with notes of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. With continued breathng, I am pleasantly surprised by the presence of brown sugared breakfast pastry, frosted with rich buttercream infused with vanilla. Nosing on, more sweet undertones emerge; the essence of red licorice, buttery brown sugar caramel, and a delicate touch of light maple syrup. Finally, a suggestion of peanuts, against the backdrop of freshly cut sweet oak and the hazy aroma of toasted wood, complement earthy nuances reminiscent of books and leather.

BOOKERS 2022-03 KENTUCKY TEA BATCH PALATE:

Kentucky Tea Batch greets with warm alcohol, and the flavor of fresh roasted corn. In the next sips I get a fruit jam of red berries, dark cherry, apricots, plums, and raisins blended with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, pepper, and rye. Now the breakfast pastry aroma I sensed on nose comes alive, as rich vanilla enhances buttery brown sugar caramel and peanut toffee. Going deeper into the glass, sweet, strong oak, counters barrel tannins, toasted wood, and heavy notes of char and newly tanned leather.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Kentucky Tea offers a nice balance of sweetness and wood along with a strong showing from its fruit and spice components. In the mouth it tastes rich, and while silken and creamy, it is a bit challenging to hold, owing to its grittiness on the tongue. Above the bowl, a thin fragile crown breaks into fast falling droplets to form long legs. These drain each after-sip quickly back to the mahogany-colored pool.

BOOKERS 2022-03 KENTUCKY TEA BATCH FINISH

Booker’s 2022-03 Kentucky Tea Batch finishes long with lingering warmth. When each sip is swallowed, the memory of roasted corn, dark cherry, plum, and raisin blend with cinnamon, ginger, pepper and rich vanilla. With contemplation, new sensations, in the form of buttery brown sugar caramel and light molasses with crushed dark roasted peanut slide in, much like one might get from a Bit ‘o Honey candy. As the suggestions fade, heavy strong oak anchors barrel tannins, toasted wood, and char.

MY RATING: 93/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
^{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 93/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other reviews from this brand, click Booker’s Bourbon.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Elora and Booker’s 2022-01 Ronnie’s Batch

Posted on 21-June-202228-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah here! And introducing the third sipper of the family and guest writer, Elora Dawson. Elora has been sipping with Dad and me since she turned 21 two years ago, and she’s even practiced writing many a review with us! To celebrate this year’s National Bourbon Day (excuse our tardiness), we all thought it was time to include her in our posting adventures. This week, she stars as a guest reviewer on The Sip, and perhaps we will see more of her in the future. For now, enjoy reading her thoughts on a Booker’s Batch (yep – she sips with the best of them ;)).

Elora and Booker’s 2022-01 Ronnie’s Batch

Original review written June 7, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Booker’s Ronnie’s Batch is a great bourbon that has many sweet and earthy tones. However, it should NOT be taken lightly; its heat can give Kentucky hug if you are not careful.

VITALS:

Elora and Booker's 2022-01 Ronnie's Batch

– Made In: Clermont, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 6 yrs. 11 months, 22 days
– Mash Bill: Corn=77%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 62.15% (124.3 proof)
– Price: $89.95 USD in Idaho in 2022

– From Master Distiller’s Notes: Ronnie’s Batch is made up of barrels that were aged in 5 different locations/warehouses (WH)… Breakdown is as follows:
48%: 5th floor of 7-story WH Z
26%: 5th floor of 7-story WH Q
15%: 5th floor of 7-story WH 1
7%: 4th floor of 9-story WH D
4%: 3rd floor of 7-story WH 5

Find more information at bookersbourbon.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed my bourbon neat in a Glencairn glass along with my sister and dad.

Check Hannah’s and Brian’s reviews here!

MUSIC SELECTION:

Booker’s Ronnie’s Batch should be shared with close friends and family and should be used to create happy memories. Poor Man’s Poison’s “A Place for Friends” provides comfort to the listener while encouraging them to revisit those sentimental moments with a nostalgic smile.

Video found on YouTube.com under PoorMansPoison Channel from Friends With the Enemy (2011)

Numerous flavors can be detected in Booker’s Ronnie’s Batch, and while it is easy to note the sweet tones that make the drink shine, it is also grounded by the deep fruity and earthy essences. Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter: The Bringer of Jollity” from his The Planets showcases these traits, with the high strings and woodwinds representing the sugars and the low strings and headstrong brass portray the depth and heat.

Video found on YouTube.com under Nicks Channel – Performance by James Levine and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (2008)

NOSE:

This bourbon at first carries several sweet tones, notably caramel, marshmallow, and the artificial essence of cinnamon from Red Hots. However, the mellow scents of white bread and wine ground these strong sugars. There is also a hint of star anise, toffee, peanuts, black licorice, sweetened butter, and pastry that is laced with honey, much like the Latin-American dessert, sopapillas. Fruity aromas, such as apricot jam, grilled pineapples, figs, marmalade, granny smith apples, and rainier cherries counter the other sweet flavors. It is also worth mentioning that herbs and other earthy scents balance the other notes in the dram, and these include dry grass, soil, spear mint, dust, petrichor (the smell of rain), and bibliosmia (the smell of books).

PALATE:

Feel: The dram is thick, dry, and hot as it settles comfortably in the chest.

Balance: Everything within the drink blends incredibly well, almost to where discerning distinct flavors is difficult.

Visual: The color is mahogany, and there is a defined crown with long legs that stick to the glass

The bourbon carries a more nutty and fruity tone with subtle hints of the sweet flavors listed above. Honey, sopapillas, marshmallow, peanuts, soil, apples, marmalade, butter, and caramel once again can be detected in the taste. Other flavors, while subtle, shine through in the drink, which include notes of artificial grape essence, sunflower seeds, vanilla, pear, banana bread, poppyseed, maraschino and bing cherries, charred oak and graham cracker.

Some bourbons in my experience have differing scents and palates, which can strongly affect how I like them. I am a person who usually wants to be able to taste the flavors that I get in the nose, and if I come across one that has a strong difference in aroma and taste, I will most likely not gravitate towards it. This, fortunately, cannot be said about Booker’s Ronnie’s Batch because I was able to find numerous connections between the taste and aroma. Because of this, I was easily able to enjoy this sweet beverage.

FINISH:

The dram has a long finish in both the palate and the feel. Peanuts, apricots, cherries, charred oak, grassy herbs, and a surprising hint of boiled chicken linger in the mouth. It settles snugly in the chest and warns of the possibility of a Kentucky hug if not taken seriously. After a Kentucky chew, hints of warm, sweet sugar and brine present themselves for a generous second before returning to the finishing flavors.

BUY AGAIN/WORTH THE PRICE?

I personally enjoyed Booker’s Ronnie’s Batch because of the plethora of flavors I was able to detect in both the nose and palate. While $90 may seem like an expensive purchase, I would say that it is worth it and should be included in a bourbon collection. Therefore, I would be more than happy to buy it again.

ELORA AND BOOKER’S 2022-01 RONNIE’S BATCH RATING: 92/100

To access other whiskies from this brand, click Booker’s.

Music has always been a part of my life, whether I am playing or listening to it. Since I started appreciating bourbon, I have been trying to think of possible songs that would be compatible with the dram. There isn’t a single genre that I gravitate to the most, but there are several songs that I love. As a new reviewer to Whiskey for the Ages, I want to be able to provide at least a couple of musical excerpts; one will be representing my musical career in a classical setting, and the other will be from more mainstream genres. I hope you’re able to enjoy these bourbons with my music selections!

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Elora and Booker’s 2022-01 Ronnie’s Batch
written June 2022 by Elora Dawson
Writer, WhiskeyfortheAges.com

Booker’s 2022-01 Ronnie’s Batch Review

Posted on 13-June-202227-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Booker’s 2022-01 Ronnie’s Batch Review

Original review written June 7, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

This is not for the novice, but its depth and richness make it well worth the purchase. Certainly one of the best Booker’s I have had to date. 96/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Clermont, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 6 yrs. 11 months, 22 days
– Mash Bill: Corn=77%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 62.15% (124.3 proof)
– Price: $89.95 USD in Idaho in 2022

– From Master Distiller’s Notes: Ronnie’s Batch is made up of barrels that were aged in 5 different locations/warehouses (WH)… Breakdown is as follows:
48%: 5th floor of 7-story WH Z
26%: 5th floor of 7-story WH Q
15%: 5th floor of 7-story WH 1
7%: 4th floor of 9-story WH D
4%: 3rd floor of 7-story WH 5

Find more information at bookersbourbon.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn with my sister as well as father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I imagine being in a flower garden with this bourbon. There is a lot of earth and sweet smells and warmth and just genuine joy. It’s peaceful, relaxed and everything you could want in a bourbon. I’m excited about what is coming and what is even already here. Maybe there’s buildings around you, maybe not. In any case, it’s refreshing and a place to feel totally at ease.

Photo by Acton Crawford on Unsplash

NOSE:

Booker’s traditional heat with spicy wood is immediately apparent, as I would expect for it to be. Nevertheless, while the alcohol is certainly strong, it is not as strong as other Booker’s I have had before. This nose is incredibly rustic, not just with the wood element, but there’s even a cooked meat, like grilled chicken, here. It makes the whole nose earthy on top of the traditional rich heat. I can find dark fruit like figs and a dark berry fruit leather and jam. This is coupled with vanilla and light crystalized caramel. Backing all of these flavors is fresh grain and grass which – with the definite oak – make for an all-encompassing springboard for these flavors to play off of. It’s contained aromas just buzzing around rapidly and excitedly with all of this intense energy.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Viscous. This is extremely viscous. The heat with the viscosity makes for a good balance though.
– Balance: The depth matches the heat, with each pulling each other in opposite directions, all while managing to achieve a perfect balance.
– Visual: Mahogany in color, this leaves many long thick legs – not too many drops, just thick, drapes of legs and sheets of bourbon.

– Taste: The grain is sharp and dried on the first sip, but fruit chases behind quickly to flood the palate with fruit juice – heavy and intense like concentrated juice. Rye is a harsh part of that grain line-up, doing the majority of the drying-it-out process. The alcohol is incredibly harsh on the first few sips coupled with both black and white pepper, so consider yourselves warned. It does get easier to work with the longer I sit with it, but it still has the strong potential to give a Kentucky Hug. I find earth, like dusty dirt that’s been scorched, but still somehow, it rich in nutrients – it provides depth.

I wouldn’t say that there is an abundance of different flavors to identify (do note that this is not a beginner’s whiskey – even someone as well-versed as myself, I am struggling). However, the depth of each flavor is so intense and fiery, it’s impossible to not get sucked in and absorbed in the richness. I’m a bit terrified to try a Kentucky chew with a bourbon this punchy, but when I do, raisins and black pepper rise to the surface and dominate. (And I pray I don’t get a Kentucky Hug.)

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Exceptionally long. The aftertaste may be on the minimal side, but the warmth lingers and lingers and lingers.
– Between Sips: Dark fruits and grass linger between sips, staying fresh and staying warm in every pause. It’s absolutely fantastic.

– No More: This grows more and more the further into the glass I get, and I am absolutely enamored with the heat and depth that I am finding. It’s an experienced whiskey drinker’s drink. It’s home in a glass.

The empty Glencairn is a warm vanilla and chocolate and oak, and it is absolutely addictive and lovely.

THE ADDITION OF WATER

– This section written on June 11, 2022 –

Booker’s 2022-01 Ronnie’s Batch Review: Water can often tame bold whiskeys and the addition of 2-4 drops will not radically change the proof of the pour. Rather water may help open the spirit allowing the aromas and flavors to bloom. As such, 2 and 4 drops of distilled water were added to their own respective 1.5 oz. pours of Booker’s Ronnie’s Batch to detect any potential differences:

Two drops of water take the alcohol burn back significantly, allowing caramel and vanilla to come forward. There’s still earth in the form of dirt, and ginger spice with cinnamon. It almost smells candy-like now… but a spicy candy. A sip finds that while complex, this has indeed become simpler. The grain is forward and alcohol stings across the lips like pop rocks candy (which I suppose, is congruent with the nose). I find baked apples – they’ve lost a lot of the fruity sweetness, but the cinnamon-y warmth/sweetness is still present. This still runs hot and wants to give a hug. And surprisingly, it remains pretty good. (RATING: 93/100)

Caramel is much more forward now with four drops. The alcohol is extremely diminished and dark fruit leather and maple are allowed to peek out on the nose. Ginger and cinnamon are present as well, along with black pepper being officially distinct from the proof. The complexity miraculously hasn’t been stripped from the bourbon, but the heat has been dramatically reduced. Four drops has made Ronnie’s Batch much more approachable while leaving you the sense of intensity and sugar sweet flavors. The variety of spice helps make it enjoyable too. (RATING: 95/100)

WORTH THE PRICE?

Out of all of the Booker’s, this one is among the most “worth the price” that I have ever tasted. It’s harsh at the start, but as it builds, you’re truly taken on a journey and left at the end only wanting more. I’ll pay $90 for this bottling without even blinking. And if you’re an experienced whiskey drinker, I suggest you do the same. And if you’re still new to the craft, buy it now, and leave on the shelf until you’re ready for the awakening inside. It’ll be worth it either way.

BOOKER’S 2022-01 RONNIE’S BATCH REVIEW RATING: 96/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 96/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Booker’s.

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