Hannah’s Booker’s 2019-03 Country Ham Review
Original review written February 8, 2020
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
A little on the baking flavors side for a Booker’s, Country Ham perfectly combines sugary sweetness with an explosive spiciness. As it stands, this is my favorite bourbon I’ve ever tasted. Read my full Booker’s 2019-03 Country Ham Review here! 97/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery; Master Distiller: Fred Noe
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 6 yrs. 4 mo. 2 days
– Mash Bill: Corn=77%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: New charred oak; Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 63.35% (124.7 proof)
– Price: $84.95 USD in Idaho
– *From Master Distiller notes: Country Ham is made from 364 barrels produced on a single day stored in two different rickhouses/warehouses (WH) and sourced as follows:
51%: 7th floor of 9-story WH H
44%: 4th floor of 7-story WH P
5%: 3rd floor of 7-story WH P
*Find more information at bookersbourbon.com
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
This bourbon could be enjoyed anywhere you feel at peace, as long as you have some whole wheat toast and jam at the ready to complement the spicy and fruity warmth that you’ll find in the glass. Dig in!
Photo by Frame Harirak on Unsplash
NOSE:
Though there is a distinct Booker’s alcohol nose, this is still surprisingly mellow for something nearing 125 proof. There is almost a red wine/cabernet essence to it, with subtle tannins and dates mixing with the grape-y-ness.
As I continue to let it warm, there is a sweet aroma of milk chocolate that kicks in, blended with a touch of chili and rye for spiciness. The chili is only very apparent on deep inhales, which comes with a stinging alcohol bite, so be cautious.
More nosing coaxes out a fresh maple syrup and dark brown sugar, like gingerbread. For wood, I get an indistinguishable spicy barrel feel.
Overall, it’s a sugary, but deep and rich nose that has me eager to sip.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Textured. I’d like to pitch a tent in one of those rich flavor pits.
– Balance: Amazing. I love the seamless transition between sweet and spice.
– Visual: Burnt amber in color, there is a weak crown, with few to no legs.
– Taste: Upon the first sip, I am immediately reminded that this is a high proof bourbon. I get a spiced, dark fruit component overwhelming the tongue, but it’s difficult to identify exactly what it is, beyond that it is dried. If I had to pick, I’d likely stick to the dates from the nose, but there are figs here too as well as dark chocolate covered raisins. Perhaps it’s meant to be more of a dark, dried fruit medley as opposed to any one fruit in particular having a leading role.
Flavors continue to develop with bursts of cloves and cinnamon to pair with light caramel and chopped, unsalted peanuts that have been frozen (think of a drumstick ice cream cone). I’m struggling to get much for grains, but the oak is sweet and chewy, and it keeps me going back for sip after sip.
A Kentucky chew scalds the tongue with cinnamon and black cherries. Even though this hurts, I want to do it again just for those flavors.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Very long. That warmth settles into every nook and cranny, along with pleasant flavors that wrap themselves around my molars.
– Between Sips: Rye, cinnamon, caramel and a hint of juicy dates keep me company between sips, though the waiting time for that is a little short.
– No More: This stays warm and rich with the dark fruitiness all throughout the glass, and I could not be happier. This is just a really fantastic bourbon, easily among my favorites of all time.
The empty Glencairn is a dry oak with some fig hiding just as the back. YUM-YUM-YUM.
WORTH THE PRICE?
We are approaching the $100 mark here, so hesitation reaching for a bottle is understandable. However, if you are a Booker’s fan or like fruity, hot bourbons, you’d be remiss to not grab at least one bottle. Since it is my among my favorites, I will pay the $85 price for this bourbon.
RATING: 97/100
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