Table Of Contents
The Details
| Rating | 92 |
| Style |
Bourbon American Whiskey Whiskey |
| Produced In |
Kentucky United States |
| ABV | 62.25% |
| Availability | Limited |
| Price | $89.99 |
| Reviewed By | |
| Reviewed | 2024-04-23 |
Booker's 'Springfield Batch' 2024-01 Review
There are really only three constants in life: death, taxes, and four Booker’s Bourbon releases per year. The latest such bottling — 2024-01 by the year and batch codes — is dubbed “The Springfield Batch,” named for the Central Kentucky town where Booker Noe was born and raised. (He later rose to whiskey fame as a resident of nearby Bardstown, often called “The Bourbon Capital of the World.”)
Most recent Booker’s sit somewhere between 7(ish) and 8 years old, and The Springfield Batch is right in line at 7 years, 7 months, and 8 days old. Parent company Beam also disclosed the following stats regarding the aging environment of this edition’s barrels:
- 17 percent came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse G
- 7 percent came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse H
- 31 percent came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Z
- 45 percent came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse 3
The Springfield Batch is bottled at 124.5 proof. Let’s see how it stacks up!
Booker's The Springfield Batch: Stats and Availability
Booker’s Bourbon is released four times per year in limited quantities, with a suggested retail price around $90. But it’s certainly not an “uncommon” bourbon. In some markets — especially Kentucky — Booker’s is often found in abundance within $5 of MSRP. In bigger metropolitan areas, I expect to find it hovering above $100. The highest I’ve seen it listed in recent years is $125.
Booker's The Springfield 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
Though the mash bill is consistent, and the ages are within a few months of each other, Booker’s batches are known to vary widely in aroma and flavor. The Springfield Batch starts right in the middle of the spectrum for recent Booker’s, with classic Beam nuttiness. (In this instance, think of heavily salted peanuts, straight from the jar.) It’s a little more peanut-forward and a touch less sweet than many of 2022 and 2023’s releases.
Salted peanuts diminish with more time in the glass. They’re followed closely by buttered popcorn, and together they give this bourbon a fatty richness on the nose. Tart apple and blackberry jam add some welcome tartness that, at least here, cuts the fat enough to stay balanced.
Barbecue scents are up next via paprika and brown-sugar-laden tanginess. Often, Booker’s Bourbon carries significant wood smoke and mesquite aromas. While those notes are certainly present, The Springfield Batch has dialed them back, especially compared to the fantastic 2023-03 release.
Ethanol influence is relatively light given its 124.5 proof. Overall, based purely off the nose, we’re looking at one of the tamer Booker’s bottlings in recent years.
Taste
The first sip is notably fruit-forward, with elements that take time to really pick apart: tart cherry, black cherry, green apple, blackcurrant, raspberry, and syrup-drenched pear.
The bourbon transitions gradually to more tannic flavors, more dark chocolate and coffee than leather and tobacco. Together with lingering fruit, it’s reminiscent of a fruit-filled dark chocolate bar. Mild baking spice accents the chocolate just enough to stay in the conversation, but not enough to take center stage. The combined effect continues to push 2024-01 further into fruit-and-chocolate territory than savory, smokey barbecue.
There’s enough oak here to match up to the seven-plus year age statement. Unlike some other Booker’s, it’s not present early on, instead building from the midpalate and back. Simultaneously, brown sugar wrestles the sweet elements back from bright and tart fruit.
On the one hand, the backloaded oakiness makes for a milder overall sip that some Booker’s acolytes might find too subdued. But on the other hand, The Springfield Batch gives that fruit-forward sweetness and light baking spice time to shine for longer toward the front of the tongue. It’s a delicate tradeoff that might ultimately get a bit polarizing among longtime fans of the expression.
Finish
Oak reaches its high point on the finish. It’s not the longest (or most memorable) such ending among recent Booker’s. But it’s also nothing to sneeze at, with dark chocolate and leather keeping the throat and back of the palate warm while flavors transition into a push-pull between sweet and bitter.
I find Booker’s Bourbon is always best assessed both neat and with a few drops of water. Here, though, I found dilution took the whiskey into “too mild” territory, losing the characteristic punch of a good Booker’s pour. As such, I’d recommend enjoying this one neat.
Booker's The Springfield Batch Rating
92/100
Recap
The Springfield Batch doesn’t quite hit the same heavy punches of 2023’s final two Booker’s releases. It’s also the rare Booker’s I recommend sipping completely neat, though play with dilution to your heart’s content!
Sure, it doesn’t take the biggest swings. But The Springfield Batch emphasizes some pleasant, fruit-forward sweetness that could make it more accessible to folks who don’t always seek out the extraordinarily bold flavors Booker’s is known for.
To be clear: This is a quality bourbon through-and-through. It’s also one I expect might cause debate among Booker’s die-hards. Those are discussions I’d be happy to take part in — especially if they include side-by-side tastings.
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