Whiskey Review/Tasting: Bookers 7 years

Physical Whisky Characteristics

Origin: Produced by the Jim Beam company, a renowned distillery in the bourbon industry.
Type: Small batch bourbon, part of a collection that includes Bakers, Knob Creek, and Basil Hayden.
Distillation & Maturation: Aged for 7 years and 6 months, this bourbon is uncut and possibly unfiltered, showcasing a high alcohol by volume (ABV) of 63%.
Age Statement: 7 years old.
Color & Clarity: Not explicitly described, but the high ABV may influence a deeper coloration.
Bottle Design: Unique in its presentation, the Booker's bourbon comes in a wine bottle, a choice stemming from its initial bottling in 1988. It is also the only whiskey in the Jim Beam small batch collection to be packaged in a wooden box, ensuring the bottle remains stationary.

Balance of Flavors: This Booker's batch leans heavily towards the cask influence, with less emphasis on the fruitiness, yeast, and cereal notes typical of bourbon.
Unique Characteristics: The flavor profile is distinguished by a strong fruitiness, reminiscent of berries and cranberries, without the common vanilla and caramel notes. It also features a fresh pipe tobacco aroma, spiciness, and a drying effect on the tongue from oakiness, sweetness, and tannins.
Comparison: Compared to another Booker's batch, this one has more pronounced cask influences, less vanilla and caramel, and more tannins and bitterness.

Anecdotes: The Booker's name was established in 1988 by Frederic Buchanot II after bottling a particularly well-crafted cask for business contacts. Horst Luening, the reviewer, shares a personal story of meeting Bukano in 2003 in Frankfurt, Germany.
Trivia: The use of wine bottles for the first Booker's batch was due to a surplus of these bottles at the time of its initial bottling.

Historical Context: Booker's is part of Jim Beam's prestigious small batch bourbon collection, highlighting the distillery's commitment to producing high-quality, select bourbons. The story behind its creation and packaging adds to its cultural and historical significance within the bourbon community.

"This is one of the well the best berms available on the market extremely selected by the cask of the huge amount of casks Jim Beam has."
"One time in your life you should have one of those. Either the bakers or the bookers and then you know which extremely good kentucky straight berms in small batches or even single casks are there on the market."

Booker's 7-year-old bourbon is a high ABV, small batch bourbon from Jim Beam, with unique packaging and a strong cask influence.
It features a distinct flavor profile with fruitiness, fresh pipe tobacco aroma, and a lack of typical vanilla and caramel notes.
The whiskey's name and initial bottling process have interesting backstories, adding to its allure.
It is considered one of the best bourbons on the market, highly selected and worth trying at least once in a lifetime.

Bourbon Enthusiasts: Those with a deep appreciation for bourbon's complexity and history will find Booker's 7-year-old bourbon a must-try.
Collectors: The unique packaging and story behind Booker's make it an attractive addition to any collection.
Adventurous Drinkers: Individuals looking to explore bourbons with high ABV and distinct cask influences will enjoy the challenge of tasting Booker's.
Gift Seekers: For those looking to impress a bourbon lover, Booker's, with its wooden box and rich backstory, makes for an excellent gift.