Review #143 Booker's 2015-02 European Edition: Bourbon

Score: 9.3 / 10

Distillery: Jim Beam Distillery

Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Jim Beam and Booker's really doesn't need much of an introduction. The distillery has been distilling bourbon since 1795. Each batch of Booker's is unique as they always release it in a limited fashion and lack an actual core product of the offering. Which is exactly why this one is a such a gem. We found this bottle in 2022, 7 years after it was discontinued.

The goal of this review is mostly to let you know that online stores such as fine drams and overseas markets still have this stuff? What???? These would be gone immediately off the shelves in the US. Anyway, check around. You may be surprised. Let's see how this compares to the current offering notes.

Whiskey Review:

Nose: So much potent brown sugar followed by peanut, espresso, blackberry, and vanilla. Strange booziness here - I get Malt liquor? (Where my 40oz at), nice rye spice, overly cinnamon spiced apple. Nose to the top of the glass yields fun-fetti cake, while nose to the bottom of the glass brings forth hot tamale (artificial sugar and cinnamon) notes.

Palate: A huge burst of vanilla and brown sugar thoroughly coat the palate with a thick and viscous consistency. Immediately after covering the palate this whiskey switches gears and explodes with a sour cherry on the back-end that intermingles with black pepper and cinnamon spice. Near the back-end fruity notes meet rye spice and fade into fresh ground coffee. A second sip brings the same flavors combined with watermelon and green apple Jolly Ranchers. Flavors are insane on the palate and it remains surprisingly easy to drink at 127.4 proof.

Finish: Finish is moderate to long in length while being pretty tannic. Particularly on the sides of the mouth. A nice ember of spice lingers on the back end as some citrus notes, particularly a lime note pops up here and there on the palate leaving dry cinnamon and astringent oak. Breathing in cools the mouth with menthol cherry and maraschino cherry on the exhale. Lastly I notice a hint of bread crust as other flavors fade and then lightly sour candied fruits return

Score: 9.3

Scale:

S+ Sensational - The Pinnacle (9.5+)

A - AXEceptional (astounding) (9-9.5)

B - bravo (step aBove average) (8-8.9)

C - competent (7-7.9)

D - disappointing (6-6.9)

F - flush it down the toilet (fail) (5.9 below)

Notes: Availability? Limited. As stated above things like this come up. However, once they are gone they will never be made gain. Happy Hunting!!