Booker's Bourbon: Beam's Unfiltered, Unapologetic Beast

Booker's Bourbon is named after Booker Noe, the larger-than-life master distiller who believed bourbon should be tasted the way it comes out of the barrel—uncut, unfiltered, and utterly unapologetic. More than three decades later, his philosophy continues to produce one of the most consistently rewarding barrel-proof experiences in American whiskey.

Each quarterly Booker's release carries a unique name and batch number, and the bourbon community dissects them with the intensity of wine vintages. The proof typically ranges from 120 to 130, which means this is not a bourbon for the faint of heart or the heavy-handed pourer. Respect the proof, and Booker's will reward you immensely.

The nose is pure, concentrated Beam DNA: cinnamon rolls straight from the oven, peanut butter fudge, rich caramel, and toasted oak. There's a tobacco leaf quality and a honeyed sweetness that manages to peek through despite the barrel-proof intensity. It smells like a Kentucky barrel house in autumn—warm, inviting, and slightly dangerous.

On the palate, Booker's delivers a full-contact experience. Vanilla and cinnamon explode across the tongue, followed by clove, dark berries, and that iconic Beam peanut character. The mouthfeel is thick and oily, coating every surface with caramel and charred oak. A splash of water opens up additional layers—graham cracker, dark chocolate, and a surprising berry sweetness that the proof otherwise conceals.

The finish is long, warming, and tremendously satisfying: mixed nuts, dark berries, and spicy charred oak that lingers for what feels like minutes. This is bourbon that stays with you, in the best possible sense.

At $100-116, Booker's isn't the value proposition it once was at $60. But for a barrel-proof bourbon of this quality and consistency, it remains one of the surest bets on the shelf. No hunting required, no lottery tickets needed—just honest, powerful bourbon doing exactly what Booker Noe intended.