Hannah’s Booker’s 2021-04 Noe Strangers Batch Review
Original review written February 22, 2022
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
One of the best Booker’s batches I’ve had in a while, this one has everything you could possibly want out of a bourbon from mouth feel to balance. Just perfectly enjoyable. 95/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Clermont, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 6 yrs., 6 mo., 12 days
– Mash Bill: Corn=77%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 62.2% (124.4 proof)
– Price: $89.95 USD in Idaho (2021)
– From Master Distiller’s Notes: Noe Strangers Batch is made up of barrels that were aged in 4 different locations/warehouses (WH)… Breakdown is as follows:
39%: 6th floor of 9-story WH J
31%: 5th floor of 7-story WH Q
27%: 5th floor of 9-story WH D
3%: 2nd floor of 9-story WH H
Find more information at bookersbourbon.com
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the spirit 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 bourbon screams comfort, with warmth and peace. I imagine sipping Noe Strangers Batch while eating some gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. Oozy cheese, crunchy toast, maybe with some fancy dips. The point is, is that it’s familiar, yet new, making it both safe and exciting all at once.
Photo by Pixzolo Photography on Unsplash
NOSE:
Caramel, vanilla, chocolate, and cake waft from the glass on the first inhale, followed by the traditional Booker’s spice of black pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. There’s dusty grain on deep draws that pairs with a salty savory-ness, almost like barbeque. It’s even coupled with the smoky quality you would associate with grilling. In fact, I think these flavors take over a bit the longer I sit and nose this bourbon. There’s some fruit, perhaps assorted berries, but I don’t think these are the main heroes among these aromas. I wouldn’t say there are many flavors beyond those mentioned, but the flavors are very intense and deep, making it already enjoyable.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Syrupy. I absolutely love the feeling of this one and think it matches the personality of this bourbon well.
– Balance: Sweet heavy, but the backend of heat makes it all very well-balanced.
– Visual: Mahogany in color, this falls in sheets, leaving only droplets behind and the occasional thin leg.
– Taste: I was expecting significantly more heat on this palate than what I actually received. Fruits come to life in both a dried and ripened sense. I get the berries from the nose as well as dried apples. A sprinkling of cinnamon comes across the back end, highlighting the fruit and giving the bourbon a bit of a kick too, which I appreciate. There is simple syrup, vanilla, and more cake too, making this bourbon so pleasantly sweet. Nevertheless, the proof is there, making the whole sip warm and the slightest bit aggressive.
The alcohol doesn’t seem affronting during the sip, but the kick that comes afterwards has the full potential to burn and fight back. A Kentucky chew surprisingly is not too painful, and it awakens a pastry and raspberry element, like a Danish pastry, and I am simply put, in love.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Very long. The heat lingers and lingers and lingers with minor aftertaste, but it is still enjoyable.
– Between Sips: Dusty grain lingers between sips with plenty of alcohol warmth, along with light caramel and raspberries.
– No More: Stays consistent throughout the glass with the mouth feel becoming more and more enjoyable as I go.
The empty Glencairn has sweet sawdust at the bottom, and it is lovely. But now I just want another glass.
THE ADDITION OF WATER
– This section written on February 26, 2022 –
Booker’s 2021-04 Noe Strangers 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 Noe Strangers Batch to detect any potential differences:
Two drops of water make for a toasty bread nose with a jammy element, like strawberries and blackberries. The palate initially starts with considerably more wood than what was found on the neat pour. Dark fruits follow the wood, along with sweet mano dusted with chili powder (it’s quite a good candy – don’t knock it till you try it). There is still significant heat to this, despite being watered down. It feels less likely to hug, but it does still rasp at the throat. The syrupy feel isn’t as potent now, though I do enjoy this mouth feel. (RATING: 94/100)
Caramel comes out on the nose right away with four drops of water. I don’t even wait to take a sip, and am now greeted with not just caramel, but apples also. There’s a wood chip quality, making the balance chewy and thick. I think a lot of the original complexity has been stripped here with this much water. While fruit is still present, it’s quite subdued, and it shows up more on the finish than on the direct palate. The alcohol is even more gentle, which is expected, but the warmth also takes a bit of a hit as a result. This is fine, but I wouldn’t recommend more than two drops of water four this bourbon. (RATING: 88/100)
WORTH THE PRICE?
Yes, yes, yes, and yes. This is one of the best Booker’s batches I’ve had in a while. The mouth feel, the balance of sweet to alcoholic kick – this is what bourbon is all about. If you find it, give it a try.
BOOKER’S 2021-04 NOE STRANGERS BATCH REVIEW RATING: 95/100
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