Table Of Contents
The Details
| Rating | 94 |
| Style |
Bourbon American Whiskey Whiskey |
| Produced In |
Kentucky United States |
| ABV | 63.3% |
| Availability | Year Round |
| Price | $89.99 |
| Reviewed By | |
| Review Updated | 2023-12-19 |
Booker's Bourbon Mighty Fine Batch 2023-03 Review
The third Booker’s Bourbon for 2023 is titled “Mighty Fine Batch,” and as with all such releases since 2015, there’s a story behind the name. “Mighty fine” was one of Booker Noe’s signature phrases, which according to a brand press release, was used to designate approval on everything “from his namesake bourbon to his country ham.” Booker passed away in 2004, and his legacy lives on in one of Beam’s most consistent and storied whiskeys.
This particular batch carries an age statement of 7 years, 1 month, and 10 days, on the slightly older end for contemporary Booker’s releases outside of special editions. It’s bottled at 126.6 proof, and the liquid comes from seven production dates and was aged across six warehouses. (Specifics on warehouse locations are available on the Booker’s Bourbon website.)
More than 30 years ago, Booker’s was the only real cask strength bourbon available to the general public. The market today is significantly more crowded, and Booker’s Bourbon is up against stiff competition. Batches vary quite a bit in flavor, intensity, and profile, though I’ve generally found them to be trending upward in quality over the past couple years.
Let’s see if Booker’s Mighty Fine Batch is worthy of its name.
Booker's Bourbon Mighty Fine Batch: Stats and Availability
Booker’s Bourbon has a suggested retail price of around $90, though it’s common to see it at $100 or slightly above depending on the retail market. Because of Jim Beam’s immense production capacity, even these “limited” releases make their way to almost every corner of the country. If you’re looking for Booker’s, you’ll likely be able to find it with a little digging, whether at the local liquor store or duty free when passing through an airport.
Booker's Bourbon Mighty Fine Batch Review
As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.
Nose
With Booker’s Bourbon, I often get sweet barbecue early on the nose. But my first note for “Mighty Fine Batch” is popcorn, both buttered and caramel coated. That popcorn nose then dies down to reveal semi-sweet vegetal scents: cooked tomatoes, caramelized shallots, and roasted carrots. That sweet caramel — punchy early on — remains present throughout.
This batch also features a mild mesquite note, a classic Booker’s scent that can either add or subtract from the nosing experience depending on its intensity. Here, the influence seems just about right.
Later on come some very fruity elements, and as with many Booker’s releases, they certainly take their time to unravel. Think: tart apple, sour cherry, and unripe plum. The unripe fruit pairs quite well with the oak influence and vegetal notes, and leads to an overall nose that shows great restraint instead of tipping into overly woody or sweet territory.
Taste
Oak and spice open simultaneously at first sip, filling the mouth with a spectrum of flavor both quicker and fuller than most other Booker’s in recent memory. As both wood and rye spice fade away, a lovely chocolate undertone appears, slightly bitter but somehow lightly floral. The first few sips build quickly in flavor but keep things fairly bright throughout. This is a whiskey that immediately beckons you to take another taste.
New flavors hit the midpalate in a welcome order: sweet vanilla ice cream, followed by peanut butter, then back into chocolate territory. They’re classic Beam tasting notes and among the best versions of themselves from any of the brand’s recent expressions.
Of special note is the batch’s oak influence, always present on Booker’s but only rarely this dialed in, especially on releases ticking over seven years. At a couple junctures, I did crave a bit more fruit, but that’s asking a lot given Mighty Fine Batch’s ample flavor and (thus far) deft touch.
Finish
The finish is long — both sweet and mildly spicy — and warming, without pronounced burning or astringency. Prominent notes include creamy vanilla, nuts (again peanut butter), and a kiss of wood sugar. I don’t always expect a 126.6 proof bourbon to stick the landing, but it’s probably the strongest part of this already rock-solid pour.
As with all Booker’s releases, I also sampled “Mighty Fine Batch” with a few drops of water. A small amount of dilution takes some punch away from the early palate and nudges things in a more floral, sweeter direction. Preference will vary from one to many drops, and this bourbon invites drinkers to find their own personal sweet spots.
Booker's Bourbon Mighty Fine Batch Rating
94/100
Recap
Mighty Fine Batch is the most balanced and return-worthy Booker’s Bourbon in at least two years, and perhaps longer. There’s a lot to like and not a ton to criticize.
While some more recent batches have taken big swings in new directions — the first two releases in 2022 come to mind — they haven’t always resulted in truly great whiskey. (Though I generally applaud the brand’s willingness to push into different territory.)
Mighty Fine Batch brings things back to center and gives both Booker’s die-hards and more casual fans something to enjoy. Mighty fine, indeed!
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