Hannah’s Booker’s 2019-02 Shiny Barrel Review
Original review written on January 14, 2020
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
I remember my first dram of this was covered in peanuts, but I cannot find them in this reviewing pour. Nevertheless, a tasty Booker’s offering that doesn’t disappoint. 93/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery, Master Distiller, Fred Noe
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 6 years, 5 months, 1 day
– Mash Bill: Corn=77%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: New charred oak; undisclosed char
– Barrel Entry Proof: undisclosed; Non-Chill Filtered
– ABV: 62.0% (124 proof)
– Price: $84.95 in Idaho
– From Master Distiller’s Notes: This batch is made from two production dates, stored in three different rickhouses/warehouses (WH) and sourced as follows
43%: 4th floor 9-story WH J
39%: 4th floor 9-story WH E
18%: 6th floor 9-story WH D
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 spirit settles into the tight coziness of a hat shop in humid, summer Kentucky. Southern belles reach with one hand for wide-brimmed sun hats to shelter them from a bright sun. They hold a glass of Shiny Barrel in the other hand, living in the simple moment with their own bright smiles prepared to dazzle and shine.
Photo by Onur Bahçıvancılar on Unsplash
NOSE:
Rich bourbon warmth that screams Booker’s spice is all over the nose, with allspice and dark stone fruits being the overriding flavors, but also there’s a sweetness here. It’s almost like circus peanuts, but I find fresh Belgian waffles too. At 124 proof, one must exercise caution while nosing, but it’s still not as big as you might first assume. At the back of the inhale is where I find evergreen pine and a seasoned worn-out leather. A very complex nose, to be sure.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Very oily, slightly coppery/briny to make the mouth water.
– Balance: Full-bodied and full of complexity. Very fun!
– Visual: Auburn in color; barely distinguishable thin legs that coat the glass.
– Taste: The alcohol continues to remain subdued but the depth and warmth can be found in spades. The allspice remains, but it’s paired now with applesauce and maybe a hint of lemon zest. There’s a savory herb I find here as well that carries some freshness with it – maybe thyme?
The leather is still here, but instead of mingling with pine, I’d say oak of a buttery nature occupies the wood category.
A Kentucky chew coaxes out a bit of chocolate, mixing with a briny peach-like essence. It tastes surprisingly good, but it is accompanied by strong alcohol, as to be expected with chewing on 124 proof.
I will say that each sip makes my mouth water, awaiting the next encounter.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Exceptionally long. The warmth settles absolutely everywhere. At this proof, it may even come back out and bite HARD. It can hurt, yes, but it isn’t stopping me from going back for me.
– Between Sips: Briny-ness and allspice keep me busy between sips, which admittedly, is not a very long time at all.
– No More: A couple of maraschino cherries sneak in the further into the glass I get but overwhelming flavors are still allspice, bourbon warmth and the aforementioned briny peach quality.
The empty Glencairn is nothing but a pleasant and toasty oak, leaving all extremities to tingle with leftover warmth.
WORTH THE PRICE?
Booker’s is a special top-tier bourbon from a distillery, so there is a sense of buying a brand. That being said, I would happily buy this bourbon again for this exact price.
RATING: 93/100
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