I received a wooden cased bottle of Booker's Small Batch Bourbon as a Christmas gift this season. It is just under 130 proof and I was thinking this stuff is gonna go down like Gasoline! I am a Bourbon Guy and have been drinking it neat over the last year or so, so no water or ice to dilute it.

Anyway, a few days ago I popped the cork on the bottle and was quite surprised! It was really smooth, tasty, flavorful and had a good finish. While I don't think that it will become my weekly sipper, it is pretty good stuff for an occasion - any occasion - lol.

Normally I prefer Bourbon that is 90 to 100 Proof but once in a while I could see drinking this Bookers Small Batch with a moderate to strong Cigar - like this evening! Very nice!

Booker’s is great stuff. Since Booker Noe died several years ago, his son Fred has selected the barrels, and Beam releases the batches a few times a year, although they’re large enough that the stuff isn’t hard to find.

According to Booker himself, drinking it neat wasn’t the idea, by the way. Since bourbon develops different flavors at different proofs, he wanted to give folks the freedom to discover their personal perfect proof by experimenting and adding more or less water. If you buy a cheaper bourbon at drinking proof, there isn’t much you can do, but above 120 proof, you’ve got lots of downward room to play

Today is Sunday, thats a good occasion.

Sent from my LGL52VL using Tapatalk

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Don

Some one likes you. Bookers aint cheap.
I second the idea of a little water added.
Anything from a few drops to a small ice cube will change things.
Enjoy. Slowly

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Some assembly required..

Bookers is good stuff, but at 130 horsepower, a little goes a long way. As an old co-worker of mine used to say, drink too much and "it'll make you slap your mama."

Try using an eyedropper and add a few drops at first and let it sit for minute; whether you graduate to an ice cube or not, depends on your taste, but if you DO go with a cube, make sure it is a hard, perfectly clear one made from non-tap water.

Yeah Booker's is good stuff. I found it on sale near me a few months back and picked up a bottle. I got the 2016-5 "Off Your Rocker" batch.

I like high proof bourbon and it still has a kick to me but the flavors are so good.

I always appreciate it when a distillery bottles something at full proof so we as the consumers can try it at different levels by adding a few drops of water and discover all the flavors in the whiskey.

Haven’t had Bookers though my local liquor store does carry it. As part of my duty free collection, I stock up on Basil Hayden (1 liter and was told that volume not sold at retail stores) Makers 46, and Woodford Reserve.

Although I haven’t tried, I was told Bullet 10 year is great, as well as Blantons, and Buffalo Trace.

Bourbon: An American Tradition!

I have had one encounter with the 130 proof Booker’s. It was very tasty and easy to drink, with a nutty taste I had not encountered elsewhere. Two shots were all I had. More would certainly be hazardous. Water seemed superfluous, although I would try it if I came across a bottle.

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Not in jail.

Four Roses Single Barrel.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

Got My old hunting Buddy of 50 years a bottle of this. Next time I'll get Bookers. I have read all the Bourbon posts here for years and have written the top choices down and am using the list for My Buddies Christmas gift. Of course I get to try them. To be honest the Four Roses was worse than gasoline to Me. But that's just My taste.

For those of you who shun ice in your favorite pour, I would recommend "drinking stones." My daughter gave me a set of six that are made of marble. I keep them in the freezer and with my favorites, they ice cold stones take the edge off of the higher proof spirits without diluting.

Bookers, one of my favorite bourbons.

To taste Bookers at its best water it down. It is bottle at cask strength which is in the 120-130 proof range. It varies from cask to cask. Most whiskies are diluted down from cask strength into the 80 to 100 proof range.

Bookers at cask strength the alcohol quickly deadens olfactory nerve's and taste buds so the subtle flavor mute with each sip.

The flavors will open up with good quality water when diluted down around 85 to 90 proof. Let it sit for 15 minutes or so to fully open up as the ester chains are broken.

E-pistle 2009/03 – The Chemistry of Water & Whisky

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Bill Bates

Honestly, there is really no need to dilute it. It is actually and surprisingly pretty smooth. The reason I have been drinking fine Bourbons neat is because that is when they have the most flavor. As long as it it is smooth, I'd rather not dilute.

I also have a bottle of Cask strength Jack Daniels Single Barrel (130.5 proof) that has to be had with a bunch of ice!! Trying to drink that straight won't happen in my house again - lol.

I'll agree with the Blanton's (excellent) and Buffalo Trace (very good) but not on the Bulliet.

Got some of those stones but they have been sleeping in my freezer for a year now and I've never tried them. Actually, I forgot about them! Maybe I'll try them later.

The 4 Roses single Barrel is pretty good stuff too!

The Four Roses Yellow Label and their Small Batch aren't that good, if I'm in the economy mode I'll get Woodford Reserve but the Four Roses Single Barrel is quite tasty. Very smooth for 100 proof.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

I have had all of those in years past and now when you look on the shelf, there are dozens of new "small batch" high-priced bourbons flooding the market. Time will tell if they are any good.

A good friend at work gave me a bottle of Jim Beam Double Oak for Christmas - aged twice in two different charred oak barrels. The box had five of the marble "drinking stones". Haven't tried them yet, but tempted. Will run out of soda before I run out of bourbon this long weekend. Off work until next Wednesday, good time to try them out.