Review #18: Booker's 2019-04 "Beaten Biscuits"

Booker’s Batch 2019-04 “Beaten Biscuits” was produced on a single date and stored in two warehouses in three locations. The breakdown of barrel storage is as follows:

• 47% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse H
• 11% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse P
• 42% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse P

The batch has a deep chestnut color that is elegant, like all batches of Booker’s. The nose has hints of the oak barrel coming through the sweetness, much like the scent of caramel icing for a cake. The finish is medium and very flavorful. It is named after Booker Noe's famous "beaten biscuits".

From Booker's site:

The final release in the Booker’s® Bourbon 2019 Collection is Booker’s® Batch 2019-04, “Beaten Biscuits.” This batch is named after the small, cracker-like biscuits my dad, Booker Noe, loved to make. Like his bourbon and his country hams, he was meticulous about getting them just right.

Dad learned to make beaten biscuits from his grandmother, and he spent years trying to perfect the recipe. These little biscuits required the air to be beaten out of them (which is how they got their name), and they had little holes in them to keep them from getting stale too fast. He’d camp out in the kitchen for hours, tinker with the recipe, leave it alone for a while and then come back for more. At the end of the day, the biscuits didn’t have much taste to them. But that’s why Dad liked them – they wouldn’t alter the flavor of the country ham or the bourbon he loved to enjoy with them.

The holidays are always a big time for our family, and Dad liked to send these biscuits with his legendary country hams as gifts. In the spirit of the holiday season, I hope you enjoy this batch alongside your own family traditions.
-- Fred Noe, Beam Family's 7th Generation Master Distiller 

If you've read my review on the Little Book Chapter 2, you'd know my history with Booker's. And it's been a bourbon that, although I only have two "regular" Booker's and one Little Book, that I absolutely adore. They are cask strength so they have one helluva bite, but with just a bit of water you really get a rather complex flavor to these bourbons.

One of my favorite things about Booker's is that each one is unique, and so the allure of wanting to collect every release is a strong one if you're a fan of bourbons. Each bottle comes in a lovely wooden case and wonderfully thought out bottle and label. Something you'd be more than happy to put out on display in your whiskey cabinet or shelf. You could argue that is where the price comes from, but honestly it'd be worth the price tag without all that.

Nose: On the nose you initially get a bit of a punch of spicy notes, completely filling every inch of your nose. Through that it's nutty, oaky and just such a classical bourbon. Some vanilla and baking spices come into play as you add a little bit of water, and really helps open up the wonderful aromas that is trapped in the bottle.

Palate: Before adding water, it's spicy. It has a bite that'll warm you up really quickly. The oak, vanilla and nutty flavors are strong in the mouth and would be perfect for a bitter cold evening in front of a fire. The water really helps open up these notes and brings out some sweetness, almost caramel and toffee pudding notes.

This is yet another good example of Booker's and one that I've honestly forgotten how good it is. If you are a fan of Bourbon this is definitely an easy recommend from me. It has a complexity and warmth that will be enjoyable all year round, and really shows what a wonderful whiskeys Booker's can release. I haven't had any of the other 2019 releases so I can't say 'this is the best of 2019' but if the others are any like this one, it was a great year for Booker's.

After a bit of searching to see prices for a 2019-4 today, I found a few places listing this for around $75, and then a few for over $250+. Ridiculous. If you can find it around the $80 mark and want to give it a go, do it.