Hi Bourbon enthusiast
You must be 21 or over to enter this website. If you're not old enough to drink, then you're not old enough to read Breaking Bourbon.
Please read and drink responsibly.
You must be 21 or over to enter this website. If you're not old enough to drink, then you're not old enough to read Breaking Bourbon.
Please read and drink responsibly.
Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: Beam Suntory
Distillery: Jim Beam Distillery
Release Date: November 2024
Proof: 125.9
Age: 8 Years, 2 Months, 12 Days
Mashbill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Color: Molasses
MSRP: $130 / 750mL (2024)
Cinnamon | Graham cracker | Churro | Black pepper | Chesnut | Spicy seasoned oak
Golden Grahams | Chocolate | Charred oak | Nutmeg | Toasted oak
Toasted almond | Spicy cinnamon | Black pepper | Aged oak | Bitter oak | Lingering baking spices
Nuance isn’t typically used to describe a Booker’s Bourbon release, but this well-constructed and balanced inaugural batch for the brand’s first major expansion takes Booker’s in a new and exciting direction.
With Beam struggling to get the Harden’s Creek line to fully take flight, it makes sense that they would look to their established brands for expansion. October saw the inaugural release of Little Book The Infinite and two months later, the Booker’s Bourbon brand saw The Reserves, which opened up the brand’s flavor profile and increased its blending complexity.
Following in his grandaddy’s legacy, Freddie Noe looks to take the Booker's brand in new creative directions. Though Little Book was thought to be exactly that, eight releases later that brand has been far more experimental and unique than the more traditional confines of the Booker’s line. According to the company, Noe is personally picking all of the barrels for The Reserve blend and this first edition includes a blend of 8, 9, 10, and 14 year old bourbons. In a lot of ways, it mirrors what Four Roses does with their annual Limited Edition Small Batch release.
Coming in at a $40 premium over the standard Booker’s, but far less than the standard Little Book releases and other major Kentucky limited edition releases, it’s clear rather quickly that Booker’s The Reserves is trying to say…something. Though it's still a potent high proof pour with the Booker's typical cinnamon note, it tastes much more controlled. Its flavors are noticeably clean and precise while adding a toasted element found throughout. This takes the form of graham cracker and churro on the nose, Golden Grahams on the palate, and toasted almond on the finish. These small but impactful changes make The Reserves stand out from a typical Booker’s release, featuring strong oak content that is well balanced, and though it leans sweet, never acutely.
That seems to be the story with The Reserves. There’s a lot of what you love about Booker’s Bourbon, but pulled back, better balanced, and not trying to be the powerhouse it typically is. Its proof remains high, but it's in much better control of it which perfectly sums up this excellent bourbon.
