Booker’s 2021-04 “Noe Strangers Batch” Bourbon
Last year, Booker’s surprised us all by holding back it’s third batch, releasing only three instead of four and moving it’s planned batch 4 up (this became "Pigskin Batch”, 2020-03). At the beginning of 2021, as if anticipating the question, Booker’s quickly announced the names of all four 2021 batches right away, daring the fates to steal another batch from them.
Thankfully, we as consumers were met with four batches again (even if, in New York, we continue to get them as late as possible!). The first, 2021-01 “Donohoe’s Batch”, was quirky and chocolatey. The second, 2021-02 “Tagalong Batch”, was a disaster for me, though I must note that many people on my social media feeds called it their favorite of the year. To each their own, I guess. The third, 2021-03 “Bardstown Batch”, returned Booker’s to the core flavor profile, a part of the trunk rather than a branch-off.
Batch 2021-04, “Noe Strangers Batch”, is a branch for sure - it hits some of the classic Booker’s profile, but not all - but it ultimately holds up, eschewing the overwhelming power some batches have for a more subtle, controlled heat. There’s a savory quality here, too, like peanuts roasted with sugar and black pepper, and dark but acidic fruitiness like a blackberry wine.
Here is the barrel location according to the Booker’s Bourbon website:
The batch is made up of barrels from four production dates that were aged in four different warehouses. The breakdown of barrel storage for Booker’s Noe Strangers Batch is as follows:
3% came from the 2nd floor of 9-story warehouse H
27% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse D
39% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse J
31% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Q
Sometimes, batches are made up of as many as seven or eight parts, but this one is a restrained four, all either low- or mid-tier locations. Perhaps some of the restraint is from that makeup - there’s no tier 9/9 or 7/7 batch in here to give that high angel’s share proof heat. I personally enjoy Booker’s for the heat most of the time, though I don’t find myself missing it before it finally wallops my tongue.
This isn’t quite up to its predecessor - Bardstown is still my favorite batch of the year - and arguably, Donohoe was more interesting if farther from the core profile. It’s still light-years ahead of Tagalong, though, and one I’ll enjoy emptying a bottle of into my glass rather than into the sink.
Booker’s 2021-04 “Noe Strangers Batch” Bourbon Whiskey: Specs
Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Origin: Jim Beam Distillery
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley
Proof: 124.4 (62.2% ABV)
Age: 6 Years, 6 Months, 12 Days
Location: Kentucky
Booker’s 2021-04 “Noe Strangers Batch” Bourbon Whiskey Price: $99
Booker’s 2021-04 “Noe Strangers Batch” Bourbon Whiskey Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Bronzed amber. Thin rims and hang-on droplet legs.
Nose: Vanilla-scented nuts. Strong nose flows out of the glass immediately. Just a bit of proof. Restrained, clean scents of peanuts roasting, dried dark cherries, and blackberry wine.
Palate: Black pepper-coated peanuts blast the tip of my tongue, with blackberry and oak spice following quickly. This coats the whole palate in a wave of vanilla icing sugar and creamy oak. Mouthfeel is viscous without being heavy, coating, and refreshingly spicy, leaving peppered caramels and freshly ground peanut butter in its wake.
Finish: A hint of youth emerges on the finish, young oak, but nothing like that of Tagalong. Three Musketeers bars and peanutty nougat as the proof fades on a long, slow finish.
Overall: A definitively very good batch. Not quite up to Bardstown’s profile, but still keeping Booker’s on a positive trajectory. There’s still a raw edge, but it’s relatively mild, and the classic vanilla-forward bourbon notes coat the palate deliciously.
Final Rating: 6.6
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Old Label Batch 4 or 2, Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)
8 | Excellent | Exceptional (Stagg Jr. Batch 10, Highland Park Single Barrels)
7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)
6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)
4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)
3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)
2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)
1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)
