November 11, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer
Wayne and I were very excited to get the latest Booker’s release as we are big fans. We did a formal tasting of Booker’s 2024-01 Springfield Batch with Booker’s 2024-02 Beam House Batch in July and have been waiting for this one.
Besides the amazing brown liquid that is always in a Booker’s bottle, is the story. Wayne and I take time to read all about it before diving into the tasting. This particular batch, Master Distillers Batch, is especially important to understand. We have been fortunate to attend several bourbon dinners at Jim Beam and listen to Fred Noe share many stories of his time in the industry as well as tell stories about his dad, Booker Noe. The story behind this batch we have had the honor of hearing in person and that makes it very fun to see it on this label.
Today, those of us who love bourbon and its industry are typically excited to meet Master Distillers and hear their stories. But as Fred Noe and this bottle’s story share, that was not always the case. It was people like his dad, Booker Noe, and his great friends, including Jimmy Russell, who left the distillery to promote their fine spirits that truly gave this industry a face. They are the reason that so many distillers have risen to “rock star” status today.
In case you don’t have this bottle, I have included the details from the label. Even if you do, pour yourself a Glencarin of it, let the aromas fill the air, and read all about it before taking that first sip. I promise that it will make you appreciate it even more.
From the Label
“This batch is named in honor of a group of distillers that I admire greatly. Their work in the late 80s and early 90s helped America fall back in love with bourbon and made the industry what it is today.
This group was made up of legends like my dad, Booker Noe, and some of his peers at other distilleries during this time. These guys— the “elder statesmen” as we call ‘em— paved the way for Master Distillers to get recognized for their craft. They even became the very first class inducted into the Bourbon Hall of Fame. I remember once I was with my dad when they all met up in Chicago for a festival. We were catching up at a bar and to most of the people there, we were just six random guys drinking bourbon. But someone pointed us out to the bartender and said, “you’ve got bourbon royalty in here.” We all laughed and raised our glasses. While it’s true enough now, it wasn’t always like this.
Back in the day, being a Master Distiller just meant running the distillery. But these elder statesmen changed all that, raising the bar for all of us. The job went from spending every waking moment in the distillery, to traveling the world, all the while introducing people to our beloved bourbon. They became spokesmen and celebrities in their own right. They made the job as big as they were. I’ve looked up to these guys my whole life. They showed me the ropes of how to make great whiskey and built my love and respect for everything that goes into the craft. I’m proud to follow in their footsteps and honor them with this batch.”
Master Distiller Notes: (Fred Noe)
“The third Booker’s batch of 2024 is called The Master Distillers Batch to honor the men that shaped my career and the bourbon industry.
The color of this Booker’s batch is a deep amber from over 7 years of aging in the new white oak barrels. The nose is complex, with vanilla and spices that leave you craving more of the taste you expect from Booker’s. The taste is big and bold, as all Booker’s batches should be and the finish is long and delightful.
I can just picture dad and his colleagues from the past sitting around, enjoying this batch and swapping stories.
The batch is made up of two production dates stored in 4 different aging warehouses. The age is 7 years, 8 months, 7 days and is 130.3 proof. In fact, much of this batch was produced in 2016 on dad’s birthday, December 7th. The breakdown of barrel storage for Booker’s “Master Distillers Batch” is as follows:
10% came from the 6th floor of 7-story warehouse Z
11% came from the 6th floor of 7-story warehouse 1
42% came from the 6th floor of 7-story warehouse 3
37% came from the 3rd floor of 9-story warehouse J”
Tasting Notes: Booker’s 2024-03 Master Distillers Batch
Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.
Mashbill – Undisclosed
Age – 7 years, 8 months, 7 days (details above)
Proof – 130.3
Price Paid – $149.99 in Indiana, then $113.84 in Kentucky
Color – Deep amber.
Aroma – Brown sugar, cherry, cinnamon, a bit of smokiness.
Tasted Neat – Brown sugar and cinnamon, leaning toward a confectionary sugar. There are also notes of dark chocolate, coffee, and either a dark cherry or date note. On a second taste, the Jim Beam notes of roasted peanuts become noticeable as well.
Finish – Long, warm and inviting. White pepper, cinnamon, coffee, and dark chocolate. Very nice.
Tasted with dried cranberry – Almost an effervescence, such as spicy pop rocks. Orange peel that has been toasted. Limited finish.
Tasted with a pecan – Dark chocolate, oak, a lot of effervescence once again. A bit of the coffee note with a pretty good finish.
Tasted with dark chocolate – Creamy, chocolate, spicy cinnamon, and dark cherry has returned. Limited finish.
Preferences for the pairings – We each enjoyed the pairing with the pecan best; however, we differed on the dried cranberry and dark chocolate. This would likely do well as part of a main course but probably not as successful with a dessert.
Comparing Booker’s 2024-01, -02, & -03
We decided to do a quick comparison of the first three batches of this year:
- Booker’s 2024-01, Springfield Batch
- Booker’s 2024-02, Beam House Batch
- Booker’s 2024-03, Master Distillers Batch
After nosing and tasting each batch we recalled why each one is a winner! This was a tough choice and we could likely select a different preference on another day next week. But for today:
Wayne preferred Springfield first, Master Distillers second, and Beam House third.
Rebecca preferred Master Distillers first, Springfield second, and Beam House third.
Again, each batch thus far in 2024 has been fantastic! We also have tired the Reserve 2024, which is outstanding, and are looking forward to Booker’s 2024-04 “Jimmy’s Batch” Bourbon. Per their website, this “batch of Booker’s Bourbon for 2024 is a tribute to a cherished friend of the Noe family, Jimmy Russel. A close friend to my dad and a second father figure to me since my dad’s passing in 2004.”
Final Notes and Video
To recap Booker’s 2024-03 Master Distillers Batch: This color is a stunning deep amber. The aromas instantly evoke rich notes of brown sugar, cherry, and cinnamon, accompanied by an intriguing hint of smokiness. Upon tasting it neat, our palate is enveloped in layers of brown sugar and cinnamon, with a delightful touch of confectionary sweetness. Further complexity emerges with notes of dark chocolate, coffee, and a robust essence of either dark cherry or date. On a second sip, the unmistakable Jim Beam notes of roasted peanuts assert themselves brilliantly. The finish is impressively long, warm, and inviting, as white pepper, cinnamon, coffee, and dark chocolate converge to create an exceptional experience.
As noted earlier, this is a great year for Booker’s and we are really looking forward to the final release for 2024. We hope you enjoy these fine pours as much as we do.
Embracing the Craft,
Rebecca & Wayne
Photos and video by Rebecca Herman McBrayer
NOTE: The bourbons in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Such whiskeys have all the requirements of bourbon: Made in the U.S, distilled at <= 160 proof, barreled at <= 125 proof, aged in new, charred oak containers, bottled at >= 80 proof. Straight bourbon means it is aged at least 2 years (and must have an age statement if less than 4). In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky. For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.
Your Bourbon Journey 