Hannah’s Booker’s 2020-03 Pigskin Batch Review
Original review written on March 24, 2021
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Booker’s 2020-03 Pigskin Batch Review: Rich and dark, I am glad that I have added Pigskin Batch to the rotation. Its blend is great, and if you like high proof bourbons, consider strongly adding this one to your bunkers! 93/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 6 yrs., 7 mo., 7 days
– Mash Bill: Corn=77%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 63.65% (127.3 proof)
– Price: $84.95 USD in Idaho
– From Master Distiller’s Notes: Pigskin Batch is made up of barrels that were aged in 5 different locations/warehouses (WH)… Breakdown is as follows:
32%: 4th floor of 7-story WH X
27%: 5th floor of 7-story WH M
15%: 6th floor of 9-story WH H
14%: 6th floor of 7-story WH L
12%: 5th floor of 7-story WH Z
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:
I imagine looking out at a busy city at night, with cars rushing home after a long day of work, and the lights of buildings ahead in the distance. Look down from a balcony perhaps with Pigskin Batch in hand as the sky darkens and just absorb the sounds and smell of the city and let the calm settle in for the evening.
Photo by Andrew Schultz on Unsplash
NOSE:
The first sensation on the nose I get is that of nuttiness. Not anything particularly strong in flavor, rather just a warm, soft nuttiness that is a little similar to pine nuts or something else that is mellow and provides more texture than flavor. There is a pastry element going along with it and a dry, dark fruit. I find the slightest hint of nutmeg, but I think most of the seasoning comes from an old leather (maybe a few old books) rather than anything else. I can’t detect much else for sweetness and any kind of brightness is limited to what I can only say is akin to grass shoots, but it is so fleeting, it could easily being a sensation as opposed to an actual aroma.
The alcohol is very minimal surprisingly, despite being close to 130 proof. Overall, the nose is dry and warm, and certainly very inviting.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: There is some grit to this, but it doesn’t bite into my taste buds particularly hard. It’s almost like rubbing velvet the wrong way.
– Balance: The blend on this is phenomenal, and while it doesn’t have the hallmark of dark fruits, the overall darkness and depth of flavor keeps me very pleased and satisfied.
– Visual: Mahogany in color, there are many fast-dropping legs, but the crown remains for a more extended period of time.
– Taste: Initial sips correspond with the dryness noted on the nose, but there is now an added bitterness. It doesn’t seem strongly nutty in its bitterness, although I will admit there is now a almond soft and buttery flavor here on the sip. What I find odd here is that, despite tasting almond, there isn’t any cherry to accompany it, like I would expect to come with almond. Instead the almond just slightly lifts the darker and more bitter tones of the bourbon.
I think the leather from the nose is here also with a dash of black pepper and another dark stone fruit. Barrel char and earth make for a harsh smokiness, but it is still somehow quite pleasant. The harshness from the alcohol, however, isn’t quite apparent on the sip until after I have swallowed, and it does threaten to treat me with a Kentucky hug, so exercise caution with this one.
When I partake in a Kentucky chew, the burn of the black pepper kicks up and is met also with the new appearance of rye. Otherwise, the sting isn’t nearly as strong as I suspected it would be, and there’s an odd, dark sweetness lingering with it too. I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily a fruit; it could be molasses, but it is very dark in nature.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Medium-long. The aftertaste lingers the most, but on some sips, the heat remains at the back of the palate, as though waiting to give me a Kentucky hug.
– Between Sips: Dryness and the hint of the dark fruit linger between sips, along with the tiny tingle of leather.
– No More: I find that this stays quite consistent throughout the glass, with no new flavors emerging or taking over the leathery nuttiness, or the touch of black pepper spice.
The empty Glencairn actually smells a lot how the pour actually tasted, with leather and oak and subtle spice coming in at the finish. Overall, this was a very enjoyable pour and I look forward to reaching for this bottle again.
THE ADDITION OF WATER
– This section written on March 27, 2021 –
Booker’s 2020-03 Pigskin 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 Pigskin Batch to detect any potential differences:
This tastes far more savory now with the addition of two drops. I get a greater sense of leather and perhaps even a brininess. Any of the fruit sweetness that I noted when I drank this neat is almost all completely gone, save for a VERY stray cherry that pops up out of nowhere every now and then. There is still caramel present on the nose, which makes up for that loss of sweetness a little. The spice, while still there does also seem to be a bit milder in flavor, so the water definitely calmed it down a touch. However, I do still get a strong alcohol presence, so two drops didn’t knock it back too hard. I think I prefer it neat, though this is still enjoyable. (RATING: 90/100)
I definitely get a greater sense of wateriness with the four drops than I did before. Every flavor seems a bit more homogenous now, with the spice taking over on dominance for overall profile. The leather seems a bit more confused as to where it fits in the equation and the fruit has definitely disappeared. I suppose the nuttiness from the neat tasting has become a bit more emphasized, but again, it seems a little lost as to where it is meant to jigsaw into the flavor. I would definitely recommend going with two or less drops of water on this. (RATING: 80/100)
WORTH THE PRICE?
As someone who reaches for Booker’s on a regular basis, I’m always inclined to give the line a chance. If you are like me in that way, this one will likely already be in your bunker, but I will say that this Booker’s offers an originality that is certainly separate from others in its line. If you like dark and rich flavors and like an immersive (a responsible one) experience with your bourbon, I think this Booker’s is worth the price of $85. And if you like high proof whiskeys, all the more reason to give a try. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
RATING: 93/100
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