Booker's 2022-04 "Pinkie's Batch" Bourbon
The final release from Booker’s in 2022 is Batch 4, “Pinkie’s Batch.” I wasn’t sure what to make of this at first based on the specs. It’s the lowest proof Booker’s in quite some time, and gets close to 7 years without crossing the mark.
Here are the Master Distiller’s notes, courtesy of bookersbourbon.com:
This batch is made up of four production dates that were aged in four different warehouses. The breakdown of barrel storage for Booker’s “Pinkie’s Batch” is as follows:
47% came from the 3rd floor of 7-story warehouse Z
36% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse 1
11% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse X
6% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Q
The color of this batch is a rich, golden amber that really shines when you hold it up to the light and admire the glass you’ve poured. The aroma is balanced with brown spice and vanilla notes, which gives you a preview of the taste. When you first sip it, your mouth is filled with Booker’s signature vanilla flavor, and it leaves you with a lingering well-rounded finish. I know my dad and grandad would have enjoyed this batch over a football game, and I’m very proud to name this batch in honor of my granddad, Frederick Booker Noe.
The warehouse locations are even more central than usual - there are usually a few floor 2s and 6s thrown in. All 3-5 in this one, though. I wonder what difference that makes at the volume being blended, but it’s worth the question. Do the top floors (6-7) or bottom ones (1-2) add something to the profile? Some extra spice or kick behind the proof? I’d love to ask.
The notes, to me, are spot-on for the flavor profile, but don’t follow through on the finish. The nose and front palate are wonderfully vanilla-forward, with peanuts being shelled through vanilla bean dust. Midway through, though, it just kind of…falls off a cliff? The mouthfeel is a bit coating but is otherwise on the thin side of medium, and the expected Booker’s proof is muted except for the briefest punch at the finish.
It’s odd, in a way, like it’s half finished. Such great beginning, very much in line with Booker’s past, then dropping off. It’s the lowest proof in any Booker’s that I can remember, but it’s not so significant that that should make this much difference.
What flavor does come through is clearly Booker’s, and it is a welcome return to the familiar flavors after Kentucky Tea. Entering 2023, I’m excited to see where Booker’s will go - a sentiment I didn’t feel this time last year.
Thank you to Booker’s Bourbon and Multiply.US for providing this sample free of charge and without editorial constraints.
Booker's 2022-04 "Pinkie's Batch" Bourbon Whiskey: Specs
Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Origin: James Beam Distillery
Mashbill: 100% Barley
Proof: 122.4 (61.20% ABV)
Age: 6 Years, 10 Months, 10 Days
Location: Kentucky
Booker's 2022-04 "Pinkie's Batch" Bourbon Whiskey Price: $99.99
Booker's 2022-04 "Pinkie's Batch" Bourbon Whiskey Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Manuka honey. Disappearing rims, tiny droplets hang on to the glass.
Nose: Vanilla bean-forward, like opening a fresh bag of them you just got in the mail. Some oak, but not woody, more warming-type. Delicious, clear bourbon notes of caramel, brown sugar, baking spices, and vanilla, tobacco entering late alongside a slight proof kick up the nose.
Palate: Warm, sweet, peanuts laced with vanilla beans. Peanuts being shelled, with the dust coming out and that unmistakable peanut shell smell. Varnish on the back tongue. Warming up a cinnamon bun or morning bun pastry. Mouthfeel is thin-to-medium, the proof dialed way down, only hitting under the tongue. Nutmeg and allspice bloom over the tongue as warm wood once again follows. Feels like the flavor loses steam here.
Finish: Peanut forward, proof moving to the back palate as it temporarily grows. Mildly coating, medium length, dissipates quickly.
Overall: A return to form after the Kentucky Tea batch, with familiar Booker’s flavors throughout. While the front half - the nose and first sip - are great, the flavor and texture feel like they run out of gas halfway through. The mouthfeel is surprisingly thin, and the finish falls off a cliff after a brief proof burst. Not bad, just not quite there yet.
Final Rating: 6.3
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary
8 | Excellent | Exceptional
7 | Great | Well above average
6 | Very Good | Better than average
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary
4 | Has promise but needs work
1-3 | Let’s have a conversation
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