In a time where new labels are bountiful, Michter's has pulled off true differentiation. Michter's explains their process on their website, saying: The year 2025 marks the first release of Company on Label:  Bottled by Michter's Distillery LLC, Louisville, Kentucky 40216 Whiskey Type:  Kentucky identification:  Batch 25A0085, released in February of 2025, features bourbon aged in a traditional Michter's I want one of these on my shelf. ) Hats off to Michter's on this one; the cooperage choices that were

Like clockwork another quarterly released Booker's batch is here for evaluation. The 2nd release of 2023 has been mulled over a bit by enthusiasts in group chats, but how much of that is just group-think? Rather than talk about it, I figured I'd be about it - so I bought a bottle from one of my local stores. Perhaps some of the perceived backlash I am seeing and hearing is due to the ever-increasing shelf price? I remember the last 3... We grumble and cry & then keep coming back for more. There does have to be a price limit where demand does fall off, but I'm not here to determine that. I just want to tell you what I think of the bourbon, so that's just what I'll do! Backstory from the Booker's website: This batch pays homage to the early days of my dad Booker Noe’s career – far before he was the Sixth Generation Master Distiller – when he first learned the art of making bourbon under the guidance of his cousin Carl Beam. When Booker started working at the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont in 1952, Carl became like a mentor to him. Back then, they didn’t have official titles like Master Distiller, but everyone knew Carl was in charge. He didn't put up with any foolishness and made sure Booker was set straight. But even if Booker did mess around sometimes, he was a fast learner and was ready to be put to work, and that quickly got him Carl’s approval. Two years after Booker started, we purchased a distillery in Boston, KY to increase our production capabilities. Carl and Booker worked closely together to get it up and running, and eventually, Carl handed the reins over to Booker. This is where he was able to experiment and master the bourbon- making process, and later on, the location was renamed the Booker Noe Distillery. Carl showed Booker the ropes at the distillery, but from there, his approach was sink or swim and it was just the push Booker needed. His apprenticeship under Carl helped him become the Master Distiller and legendary innovator we all remember him as today. I always love reading the inspiration for these batches. A good story can only take a brand so far though, so I'm here to offer my thoughts on the liquid inside. Let's dive in. Company on Label: James B. Beam Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 125.5° Age: 7 years (1 months, 2 days) Further identification: 2023-02 Apprentice Batch comes bearing a robins' egg blue label in a wooden box with a batch information card Nose: Barrel funk jumps out of the glass first for me, followed by subtle peanut brittle and vanilla frosting. Woah - big lemon notes permeate the senses on a subsequent deep inhale. It's on the edge of being intoxicating like Pinesol (think Willett rye), but it ultimately trickles down in intensity closer to Knob Creek 12 year. The citrus fruit disappears quickly leaving damp oak bark, allspice, mace and fresh mulch aromas sitting in the glass. This fast change is a bit rushed and leaves the glass feeling slightly chaotic to me. The citrus tones begin to ebb back into the nose moments later, though this time a little more zesty than before. The overall nose-feel here reminds me of a lighthouse: the beam of citrus light slowly spinning in circles, shining brightest when it sweeps briefly past the point of viewing. The chaos of the assorted notes that follow isn't far removed from the tumultuous crashing of ocean waves on the dark rocks below. The glass continues to exude funky earthy notes all throughout as it settles into its generic base profile. Time for a sip. Returning to the glass from a few sips reveals a glass that has rolled into layers of sweet vanilla. Scooping this off the surface with deep inhales quickly vaporizes those dreamy notes, leaving soft oak and molasses in the glass behind it. Dark, damp earthy tones return in spades and continue into the empty glass. Palate: My first sip highlights sweet cherry and strawberry up near the front of the tongue before bitter, tannic notes permeate towards the back. I find thick, jammy plum and raspberry notes coating my tongue before a wave of classic, nutty oak scrapes these flavors off the palate. Another sip is vibrant, energetic and teeming with citrus zest. I feel the lighthouse looking at me. A larger sip and swish is full of dark, red grape notes that sizzle, pop and dry out. The spice level is high on this one; I certainly would stay away from this on hot days. Fig newton suddenly becomes minty before finishing in full blown lemon drop land. What on earth is going on here? The changing of notes seems to indicate further passing of time as the good subparts of this whiskey continue to clash. Overall this whiskey drinks incredibly close to the high proof Knob Creek profile with a little more heat. The linger is hefty at times with zest and spice and other times it just sits flat like a flower petal on a wooden table. My last sip is surprisingly creamy as buttercream frosting soothes the lemon zest and sweet tea finish. This glass is all over the place! Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) This whiskey really took me on a journey. The setting I envisioned myself in as I sipped on this was standing on the oceanside on a Summer night in my teens. The temperature is that perfect temperature when you can't feel a damn thing except when a gentle breeze moves the air around you. I'm alone and the lighthouse is the sole focus of my eyes, but the restless darkness around me is urging me towards the allure of a cigarette. There's nothing else to focus on, nothing else to think about... Just me and the lighthouse and the sea. I don't believe I've ever been in this exact situation, so it isn't really a memory per se. I also definitely don't recommend smoking cigarettes - but damn. What a cool journey that was. All that said, I don't think this was a bad batch, but also nothing to write home about. Perhaps this blend didn't quite have enough time to marry - as this pour was all over the place with notes weaving in and out at a startling pace. I hope this helps you form your own opinion and doesn't leave you with more questions than you came with. Maybe give your bottle a good shake and leave it on the shelf until the weather cools off. I decided to compare this to a small dram of the "Beaten Biscuits" batch, and it was no competition as far as consistency, depth and quality. Bonus Booker's reviews I'd recommend checking out: 2016-05 Off Your Rocker (4/5) 2017-02 Blue Knights Batch (4/5) 2019-03 Country Ham (5/5) 2019-04 Beaten Biscuits (4/5) 2020-01 Granny's Batch (4/5) 2021-01 Donohoe's Batch (4/5) 2021-02 Tagalong Batch (4/5) 2021-03 Bardstown Batch (4/5) 2021-04 Noe Strangers Batch (3/5) 2022-01 Ronnie's Batch (4/5) 2022-02 The Lumberyard Batch (4/5) 2023-01 Charlie's Batch (4/5)

Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%

including the following whiskeys: 8 year OG Mash WFE Bourbon 4 Year WFE Rye Noah's Mill Old Bardstown 101

I love a good single barrel collaboration! Liquor Junction was kind enough to loop @MassBourbonAlliance in on this as well as a Knob Creek, Blanton's and Weller Full Proof barrel pick that should be hitting this Winter. When I saw this 36% rye on the tasting table I was immediately excited for what it might be! I wish we tasted this earlier in the flight, but we had our work cut out for us on the other barrel picks as well. Do you have a favorite MGP release you've tried? If so let me know in the comments! Company on Label: Bardstown Bourbon Company - this will be bottled under the "Hirsch" label (Distilled in Indiana) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley Proof: 114.40° (subject to change before bottling approval) Age: 8 years Further identification: Lot # 13L21 was sampled on 7/14/2022 for Liquor Junction to consider for a single barrel pick; collaborating with Derek (@Bourbondipity_) and myself - the @MassBourbonAlliance tasting group was in agreement that this was a resounding yes! Nose: Up front this starts with a soft, unassuming creamy caramel profile. A bit deeper of a dive and the nose flourishes with floral sweetness like vanilla orchids and hints of jasmine. The oak is tame and level. Tiramisu drifts slowly into the nostrils. Longer inhales show off toffee. Overall the nose feels very well put together and will certainly offer an approachable yet satisfying softness to whiskey enthusiasts new and old. Soft flashes of linen introduce thin strands of cinnamon that give just a touch of spice in the nose-feel. Subdued orange peel is trying to come out of the glass but likely needs a friendly sip to really open up. Mmm. The nose certainly open up after a sip. I find lovely barrel funk, leather and black pepper. The unique floral characteristics are again comforting and delicious in the nose. Wow - late in the glass the vanilla characteristics evolve incredibly well. The empty glass smells of honey, rose petals, chocolate, fresh-sawn lumber, and lavender. Palate: From the first sip I find an incredibly different palate than the early nose let on. There's a marvelous fruit sweetness that flashes up front that then leads to a beautiful creamy caramel viscous mouth coating that lingers infinitely long in warm bourbon waves that rise through the chest. Wow. What was a rather lackluster early nose in intensity turned out to be a wallop of a first sip. Another sip reveals the aforementioned fruit sweetness to be made up of orange marmalade, ripe red cherries, plum and a dash of Angostura bitters. Sweet and spicy red grapes bubble up to the surface at times in sweet surprises. Overall this has a great balance and manages to deliver a really unique bourbon profile that is not often achieved out of the 36% rye mash bill. Nearing the bottom of the glass some more citrus characteristics come to the foreground with lemon peel hanging out of a cup of chamomile tea loaded with honey. My last sip is a doozy of a delicious wave with orange sherbert, cornbread and a rich drizzle of warm caramel pleading for me to pour another glass. The linger is exceptionally long with sweet molasses, white pepper-laced oak, and a creamy angel food cake that tapers off slowly. Rating: Two Thumbs Up What a unique barrel! When we first tasted it (after a round of Blanton's, Weller Full Proof, and Knob Creek) I think there was definitely not enough time to see just how exceptional this barrel really is, and perhaps a bit of proof-blindness that had already set in. I am so glad I got to revisit this one as the notes just felt so easy to find here. While this definitely didn't feel like it chartered into completely new territory or set a new bar for what whiskey can be, I will say it's incredibly crushable & also incredibly nuanced if you want to take your time with it too. I love a good versatile pour like this and will often find myself sharing something like this when I am in a group setting and we are chatting about things that maybe aren't whiskey at that time. It's easy to enjoy for everyone, and if you take the time to notice - it really is a great whiskey. I'll be sure to revisit this one once it is bottled!

Over 100 years since its inception, Fortuna Bourbon has now been revitalized for a new generation of mixed up for the first release of Fortuna barrel proof bourbon that is now available at an MSRP of $100

Blanton's Black Edition is a Japan export version of the traditional single barrel bourbon from Buffalo Trace bottled at 80 proof. It still comes from warehouse H, but is also noted for having a bit more age to it (8 years rather than the typical 6). I get to offer my thoughts thanks to @ra1nmannn being generous enough to share a sample with me. Let's dive in! Company on Label: Blanton Distilling Company Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2 (Higher Rye 12-15%) Proof: 80° Age: 8 years Further identification: This single barrel bourbon will vary slightly depending on your dump date; the one reviewed here is a 9-8-21 dump date from barrel 60 stored on rick 41 Nose: An oily, viscous nose-feel jumps out at me. Sugar cookie leads into cherry skins and raisin. Intoxicating sugary aromas are impenetrable. Perfumed floral aromas build well. Goodness gracious that’s like a pixie stick - tingly sweet. Old-school tight oak leads into light lemon frosting. Palate: My first sip perfectly follows the pixie stick comparison of the nose. Sugary strawberry and watermelon produces a profile I’ve never experienced on a whiskey before. Another sip is oily with light vanilla biscotti, sugar cookie and angel food cake. This is soft, but lovely. I can’t help but find parallels to some fantastic Irish whiskeys in this glass. It’s a little too light to deliver true wow factor, but I’m quite impressed with the flavors it does deliver. Mmm. My last sip is again fruity with raspberry, cherry and plum. It fades off slowly into a silky bed of roses. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) I like this a lot - quite a bit more than I was expecting to. It certainly takes a traditional Blanton's profile and manages to ramp it up much more in intensity and depth, despite the low proof. The more oily, malty notes this displays are probably why this gets marketed towards the Japanese market which is in general much closer to the Scotch and Irish whiskey industries.

Michter's managed to scratch that itch with the PFG bottle by employing another new oak while leaving Michter's website had just enough intrigue for me to be willing to pull the trigger. Declaration Bourbon honors the legacy of the former distillery known as Bomberger’s in the 1800s and later as Michter Please join us in toasting and celebrating American whiskey history with this outstanding small batch 108 Company on Label:  Bottled by Michter's Distillery LLC, Louisville, Kentucky 40216 Whiskey Type:  Kentucky

Son (Distilled at Midleton Distillery) Whiskey Type: Finished Irish Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 100%

Another batched product coming out of Heaven Hill?! With the wild success of Elijah Craig barrel proof, I can't say I'd blame them. I've never been one for Larceny barrel proof personally, so I'm a little worried this might be another that doesn't quite jive with my palate. I will certainly go in with open eyes, as I always do when I review a new whiskey. I've had 3 prior tastings of this before today to ensure I am triangulating on the truth and not an unfortunate alignment to a Daniel Powter song. Heaven Hill describes their strategy with this release, departing from the 3-per-year cadence of their other two batched barrel proof products: The first letter of the batch number indicates which of that year's releases the bottle was a part of starting with "A," while the second digit is a number that determines the month of the year the bottle was released. The third and fourth digits indicate the year. The full list of batches and their respective proofs will be available below upon each release. For those newer to the world of whiskey, the label stating this as a Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey means that it has at least 51% wheat in the mash bill, it was aged at least two years in charred new oak, and it was made within a single state (Kentucky in this case). It does still carry 37% corn, which puts it out of the running for being called a bourbon (minimum 51% corn) but does leave some possible similarities on the table. Wondering if this release is worth picking up? I'll leave that for you to decide, but here's my take on what I'm tasting to help inform that decision. Company on Label: Bernheim Distillery (Heaven Hill) Whiskey Type: Wheat Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 51% Wheat, 37% Corn, 12% Malted Barley Proof: 118.8° Age: NAS (7-9 year old barrels are used for these blends) Further identification: Batch A223 is the first ever release of Bernheim barrel proof, which will release twice a year and follow the rules on the batch labeling strategy laid out above (A = first release, 2 = February launch, and 23 = 2023) Nose: Caramel is pronounced up front. On another deep dive of the nose, I can assure you this was definitely aged in oak. Molasses and dry, non-sweet brown sugar coat the glass in an impedimentary wall of flavor. Dusty, dry, funky oak is everywhere in the glass after a swirl. Overall very light, classic, but unfortunately pretty one-noted. Let's dive into a sip and see if this can open up a bit. Returning from a sipping session doesn't introduce anything new, but soothes and smoothes the easy medley of oak, caramel and molasses. This is just a classic aged whiskey aroma; the soft red winter wheat may have been a little too soft on the mash bill. The empty glass smells of honey, airy vanilla wafers and a hint of peanut brittle. Palate: At first sip I find a singular sweet cherry that quickly dries out into a wrinkled skin of what came before. Dry, chalky oak layers over the tongue in an extremely tannic linger. Another sip builds in a strong wave of molasses and wild mint. The tingle after a sip carries a bitter dark chocolate note alongside cinnamon and dry earth. The combination of the wild mint and earthiness is certainly a nostalgic profile for me, having picked my fair share on old hiking trails twenty-odd years ago, but it doesn't really resonate with me on a flavor basis here. Continuing to sip through this I find a touch of honeysuckle, but it keeps falling back on that solid trifecta of molasses, oak and mint. The finish and linger do improve over time, as I find myself satisfied with a solid wave of caramel. A larger sip and swish reveal a touch more cinnamon than before, but little in the way of complexity. Nondescript spice may push this out of the realm of an 'easy sipper' for some. I'm always surprised by how spice forward Heaven Hill's wheat mash can be... looking at you Old Fitzgerald. My last sip is soft and mellow with subtleties of cola, raisin and allspice. Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) Unfortunately my initial suspicions seem to have been confirmed today. This is quite a bit too simple for me to be excited about, but it certainly doesn't land in a place that is off-putting. This solidly gets my middle of the road score, where a majority of whiskeys should land if I am reviewing anything and everything under the sun, and whiskey quality is normally distributed. Now that's not distributed in the liquor world sense, that's my engineering world shining through. This might benefit from more air time. I will revisit this again in another couple months and update this post if anything changes. Maybe the blending team just "had a bad day" with this one, but I expect more from that talent rich company personally. Cheers until next time my faithful reader!

There's another Booker's batch on the inbound track. The first release for 2023 is well in swing by this point, but I haven't seen many reviews for it. Are folks growing tired of the 4 releases per year format? It certainly doesn't lend itself to being done with the previous batch before the new one comes out, so the collectors may have this one just to look at. Well, I for one think this stuff is meant to be drank, so I've got mine open. Pull up a chair and have a read on what Fred Noe & co are up to these days. On the Booker's website the inspiration of this release is listed saying: The first release of the Booker’s® Bourbon 2023 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2023-01 “Charlie’s Batch.” This batch is named in honor of Charlie Hutchens, the craftsman behind the signature wooden boxes that each bottle of Booker’s Bourbon comes in. He is also a longtime family friend and former employee of my dad, Booker Noe. Charlie started his career working at the Booker Noe Distillery. He was quite the storyteller and would entertain others with his tall tales throughout the workday. He was also one to pay close attention to the details, doing something over and over again until it was perfect – just like Dad was with his whiskey. It’s not hard to see why they got on so well. After several years, Charlie left the business to open his own cabinet shop with his brother. Charlie handcrafted the very first Booker’s Bourbon wooden boxes in his garage, and he’s created every box for us since. He and his brother have expanded their business to create other fine wood products for different brands and projects in the Beam family, including supplying custom furniture to the new Fred B. Noe Distillery – where Booker’s Bourbon is now distilled. Charlie still lives near our Booker Noe Distillery and enjoys fishing and vacationing with his family in South Carolina. One of these days, my son Freddie and I hope to get out there to fish with him. Our whole family is so grateful for Charlie as he was one of the first people to help us make Booker’s Bourbon a recognizable brand. Charlie is a very worthy recipient of his own batch, and we are excited to honor him. Fun stories are one thing, good bourbon is another - though they often go hand in hand. Let's find out where the liquid inside this bottle lands. Company on Label: James B. Beam Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 126.6° Age: 7 years (1 months, 8 days) Further identification: 2023-01 Charlie's Batch comes bearing an orange label in a wooden box with a batch information card Nose: Caramel and peanut brittle jump out at me first in unsurprising hallmarks of Booker's bourbon. Fruit skins like plum and raspberry introduce a much thicker, viscous aroma that oozes out of the glass like luxardo cherry juice. A platter of oak lifts up molasses and leather. Overall the nose is bright and dry once the initial wave of fruit passes on. Dusty oak, black pepper and vanilla begin to dominate as nondescript spices sizzle in a mess in the background. Let's have a sip, shall we? Coming back to the nose I find a dry pie crust and lovely cinnamon raisin bread has developed in the glass. Picking further through, the glass returns to a more plain medley of molasses and oak. The nose continues to be quite simple, but enjoyable. The empty glass smells of honey roasted plum ice cream and nearly imperceptible smoke. Palate: From the get-go I taste dark plum, blackberry and raspberry pie. Creamy caramel and sugar cookie proliferate on another sip. A churro with a dash of sweet cinnamon and brown sugar graces the palate on the linger. Finally on the third go I find some real heft and proof, as one would expect out of a barrel proof bourbon. Overall the glass dances along a hairy edge between overly dry and creamy fruit. It's ultimately an easy sipper with fun nuance. Late in the glass I begin to find a tootsie roll sweetness that I really adore, as it reminds me of having my fill during the Plymouth, MA 4th of July parades I used to march in for my dad's local Carpenters Union long before his inevitable retirement. I was supposed to be handing them out to parade supporters of course, but what's a little hourly wage for some hard work? What, you thought only Booker's could sling stories alongside their whiskey? See one, play one my friends! As I get back to the tasting notes you might be able to actually understand, my patient reader, I begin to find just a touch of roasted peanuts, softened well by hints of distant cherry sweetness. The salinity of the lightly seasoned nuts delivers squarely on the tongue while the free air molecules not occupied by teeth or tissue exude that sweet air of stone fruit. My last sip is once again creamy with vanilla bean ice cream introducing a strong melting wave of cinnamon, nutmeg and tarragon. Damn, that last delivery just leveled up this pour. Patience will be your friend with this one! Rating: 4/5 (Really good. I want one of these on my shelf.) Taking this glass from quite cool to a warm room temperature elicits a wonderful evolution on the nose. I would like to highlight the fact that I did have an early pour of this bottle that I thoroughly disliked, but considering I have had two other tastings that were similar to the experience I write about here, I think that tough experience was a bit of a palate anomaly. This is why I always tell people never to write anything off at one taste - you'd be surprised how much having an off day can throw off your perception of whiskey! This batch manages to just slide into my high quality Beam category with those subtle fruit layers that were admittedly a little fickle, but ultimately delicious. Bonus Booker's reviews I'd recommend checking out: 2016-05 Off Your Rocker (4/5) 2017-02 Blue Knights Batch (4/5) 2019-03 Country Ham (5/5) 2019-04 Beaten Biscuits (4/5) 2020-01 Granny's Batch (4/5) 2021-01 Donohoe's Batch (4/5) 2021-02 Tagalong Batch (4/5) 2021-03 Bardstown Batch (4/5) 2021-04 Noe Strangers Batch (3/5) 2022-01 Ronnie's Batch (4/5) 2022-02 The Lumberyard Batch (4/5)

(Heaven Hill) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 125.1