Brian’s Booker’s 2023-01 Charlie’s Batch Review:
reviewed 29-September-2023
BOOKER’S 2023-01 CHARLIE’S BATCH BOURBON REVIEW:
Booker’s 2023-01 Charlie’s Batch (Charlie’s Batch) is a well balanced and flavorful bourbon. Common notes throughout its aromas, flavors and finish include roasted corn, dark berries, plum, raisin, and fig. Throughout the tasting experience, allspice, cinnamon, and ginger blend with rich vanilla, brown sugar caramel, and light molasses on en earthy foundation of fry seasoned oak, barrel tannins, toasted wood and leather. Charlie’s Batch is a solid offering and in my opinion, a great representation of the brand.
BOOKER’S 2023-01 CHARLIE’S BATCH VITAL STATS:
Category: Small Batch Bourbon
Region: Clermont, Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Jim Beam, Master Distiller Fred Noe
Small Batch: 2021-01 Charlie’s Batch
Mash bill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Casks: New Charred Oak
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel Entry Proof: 125
Age: 7 years, 1month, 8 days
ABV: 63.3% (126.6 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 16906
Fair Price: $121.56 (BoozApp, August 2023)
Paid: $89.95
MASTER DISTILLER NOTES
This batch is made up of barrels from four production dates that were aged in four different warehouses. The breakdown of barrel storage for Booker’s “Charlie’s Batch” is as follows:
3% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Q
17% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse G
24% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse Z
27% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Z
29% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse 1
The color of this batch is pleasant to the eye with an amber color of a well-aged bourbon. The nose is balanced without too much wood and with hints of oak, toasted nuts, and vanilla. This is the aroma that Dad always looked for in his Booker’s. The taste is balanced with a slight warmth and has a pleasant finish. This batch came out just the way Dad liked it, and I know he would be happy that I named it for Charlie. I hope you enjoy this batch of Booker’s as much as I do.
LABEL INSPIRATION
The first release of the Booker’s® Bourbon 2023 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2023-01 “Charlie’s Batch.” This batch is named in honor of Charlie Hutchens, the craftsman behind the signature wooden boxes that each bottle of Booker’s Bourbon comes in. He is also a longtime family friend and former employee of my dad, Booker Noe.
Charlie started his career working at the Booker Noe Distillery. He was quite the storyteller and would entertain others with his tall tales throughout the workday. He was also one to pay close attention to the details, doing something over and over again until it was perfect – just like Dad was with his whiskey. It’s not hard to see why they got on so well.
After several years, Charlie left the business to open his own cabinet shop with his brother. Charlie handcrafted the very first Booker’s Bourbon wooden boxes in his garage, and he’s created every box for us since. He and his brother have expanded their business to create other fine wood products for different brands and projects in the Beam family, including supplying custom furniture to the new Fred B. Noe Distillery – where Booker’s Bourbon is now distilled.
Charlie still lives near our Booker Noe Distillery and enjoys fishing and vacationing with his family in South Carolina. One of these days, my son Freddie and I hope to get out there to fish with him. Our whole family is so grateful for Charlie as he was one of the first people to help us make Booker’s Bourbon a recognizable brand. Charlie is a very worthy recipient of his own batch, and we are excited to honor him.
— Fred Noe, Beam Family 7th Generation Master Distiller
Learn more at Booker’s Bourbon.
ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:
On Day 29 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.
BOOKER’S 2023-01 CHARLIE’S BATCH NOSE:
Charlie’s Batch has an invitingly warm aroma without overpowering alcohol or ethanol. As the glass is lifted to my nose, the scent of roasted sweet corn and dusty grain, sets the stage for what is to come. Allspice, cinnamon, ginger, and rye blended into dark berries, baked apple compote, currants, dark stone fruit, with hints of plum, raisin, and fig add depth, and make me think of rich apple cinnamon pie fresh from the oven. The aroma continues to unfold as vanilla custard, brown sugar caramel, and a touch of maple syrup, balance in light molasses and subtle pinenut notes. The presence of light oak and barrel tannins complement the bouquet, and are accompanied by toasted wood and earthy undertones.
BOOKER’S 2023-01 CHARLIE’S BATCH PALATE:
Charlie’s Batch delivers a warm and dry flavorful journey. In the initial notes of roasted corn and dusty grain, a subtle touch of apple pipe tobacco builds to prepare my mouth for what is to come. Dark berries, plum, raisin, and fig intermingle, as allspice, cinnamon, ginger, and rye add complexity. With additional sips, I pick up a velvety wave of rich vanilla, which combines with brown sugar caramel and light molasses to cover roasted nuts, introducing another layer of depth. As my tasting continues, dry seasoned oak, barrel tannins, a hint of char, and a touch of leather unite to build an earthy foundation.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Charlie’s Batch achieves remarkable balance and when considering the proof, surprises with its smoothness. In my mouth, I do get a mild tickle, however this bourbon is creamy and viscous. In the glass, the pour is equally captivating, as an extremely thin crown gracefully breaks into fast-falling droplets which soon create long, flowing legs to transport left over liquid from the sips back to the mahogany-colored pool.
BOOKER’S 2023-01 CHARLIE’S BATCH FINISH
Booker’s 2023-01 Charlie’s Batch offers a medium-long and dry finish which warms the throat when swallowed. As I savor each sip, roasted corn notes fade into an open bag of apple pipe tobacco. Then, dark berries, plum, raisin, and figs create a rich and fruity backdrop for allspice and ginger to work their magic. A touch of rich vanilla and brown sugar add complexity with hints of dark molasses and dry seasoned oak. Blended within the finish, an essence of barrel tannins, spice, and char contribute to a subtle leather and earthy backdrop as each sip slides down. Left behind in the empty Glencairn, I smell the lingering aroma of heavy seasoned oak sawdust, a bit of chocolate, and warm vanilla; an inviting compliment to the memory of this fine pour.
MY RATING: 90/100
Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.
Click 90/100 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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