Hannah’s Booker’s 2019-04 Beaten Biscuits Review
Original review written June 20, 2020
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Booker’s 2019-04 Beaten Biscuits Review: Another great, fruity Booker’s that pops as though it’s alive. Am I surprised? No. I can always depend on Booker’s for a great bourbon. 94/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery
– Master Distiller: Fred Noe
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 6 yrs. 6 mo. 19 days
– Mash Bill: Corn=77%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 63.05% (126.1 proof)
– Price: $84.95 USD in Idaho
– From Master Distiller Notes: Beaten Biscuits was combined from whiskeys stored in two rickhouses/warehouses (WH) in three locations and is sourced as follows:
– 47%: 6th floor of 9-story WH H
– 42%: 5th floor of 7-story WH P
– 11%: 4th floor of 7-story WH P
Find more information at bookersbourbon.com
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:
The sun is barely above the horizon and everything in sight is lit with a pink-orange flow. You’re perched on the deck of a cabin in the mountains and the evergreens in the beyond look a picturesque gold. The air is crisp, yet warm and fragrant with life.
Photo by Sonja Guina on Unsplash
NOSE:
Un-aggressive nose with plenty of warm, sugary notes including maple syrup, brown sugar, caramel and vanilla. It’s backed by cinnamon and white pepper mostly, but there is rye also. The longer the glass breathes, the more intense the alcohol becomes, making my eyes water on the inhale just a bit. Deep draws though can grant a grassy quality with a subtle stone fruit – perhaps plums? Strong and spicy oak sits underneath it all, wrapped in old leather and priming me for a sip.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Very tickly and excited, like it’s Pop Rocks candy.
– Balance: Nothing sticks out, rather it blends very cohesively.
– Visual: Mahogany/Henna with lots of thin legs dropping from a strong crown.
– Taste: Grape flavored fruit leather comes across the palate first, with a hint of black pepper just behind it. There’s also the dark sweetness of black cherries, ginger and apricots. In other words, it’s a lot more fruity than the nose suggested.
I can detect a slight nuttiness factor that’s just a hint bitter. Not quite hazelnut, but maybe walnut, especially since it comes in this smooth, buttery package. Despite the smoothness of the walnut, the sip as a whole has a popping character that is excited and warm – a Booker’s trait, for sure. Imagine if Pop Rocks candy was maple flavored. Yep, you read that correctly.
The oak from the nose is still present too, now being less spicy and more of a strong hardwood you can sink your teeth into.
A Kentucky chew is electric with strong black pepper and rye, followed by a soothing, syrupy cherry. It’s a good chew, but unnecessary.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Long. The warmth clings to the tongue and at the back of the throat. Not painful. Just cozy.
– Between Sips: Baked goods, like rolls and breads sit between sips, chewy and with cinnamon-spiced fruits dispersed throughout. Definitely delicious.
– No More: This one is continuing to grow on me the longer I sip, with a pleasant warmth sitting in my chest and the alcohol burn becoming agreeable. Brown sugar and cherry are the dominating flavors.
The empty Glencairn is oaky beyond belief, with maple and caramel laced throughout. I really LOVE this.
WORTH THE PRICE?
Definitely pricey, but if you’re a fan of Booker’s or of warm sugar and fruit flavors in the higher proof range, give this one a shot. It’s really enjoyable, and as a small batch, also becoming rarer to find. Booker’s is always a good investment in my opinion.
RATING: 94/100
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