Table Of Contents

The Details

Rating 90
Style
Whiskey
Produced In Kentucky
United States
ABV 60.8%
Availability Limited
Price $160.00 
Reviewed By
Reviewed 2025-07-08

Little Book Chapter 9 Blended Whiskey Review

While the James B. Beam Distilling Co. boasts the world’s best-selling Kentucky bourbon, it’s not a company to completely sit on tradition. Indeed, over the past decade, Beam has been experimenting with new mashbills, grains, fermentation strategies, and distillation techniques. And perhaps no line of products showcases those better than Little Book.

Curated and blended by eighth-generation master distiller Freddie Noe, Little Book is now on its ninth annual release. Technically, this is the 10th Little Book bottling overall, though it appears “The Infinite” series, first introduced in 2024, will be a somewhat separate series moving forward.

Today, we’re looking at Little Book Chapter 9, dubbed “None For Granted.” The bottling is a blend of five Beam-distilled Kentucky whiskeys:

  • 11-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey
  • 8-year-old Kentucky straight rye whiskey
  • 8-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey
  • Two different 7-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskeys

Notably, the 8-year-old bourbon comes from a mashbill that incorporates brown rice. In another nod to innovation, one of the 7-year-old bourbons was allowed to ferment for five days instead of the standard three. A Beam representative has said the longer fermentation contributes to more pronounced fruit flavors, though we don’t know the exact percentage breakdown of each component here.

While the blend contains some distilling twists, Noe’s ultimate goal with the release was to pay homage to the “founding flavors that made modern American whiskey.” According to Noe, that means a flavor profile “built on brown sweets, the comforting warmth of vanilla, creamy caramel, and big oak.”

Little Book Chapter 9 is bottled at 121.6 proof. Let’s see how it tastes!

Little Book Chapter 9: Stats and Availability

The MSRP for this 2025 Little Book release is about $160, which is a roughly $10 increase compared to 2024’s version. (Note the price point for “The Infinite” series will likely continue to differentiate from these “standard” Little Book chapters moving forward.) This is a bottle that, while limited and allocated, is generally fairly easy to find on shelves from one year to the next. That said, I’ve seen a wide range of retail price points, from significantly under MSRP (especially at bulk retailers) to well north of $200.

Little Book Chapter 9 Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

The nose is brighter and fruitier than I first expected, even given the bourbon component subjected to a longer fermentation time. Green apple gummy candy, peach rings, and maraschino cherry lead, followed immediately by a hefty dose of ethanol that feels appropriate for the 121.6 proof.

After the initial candy-like fruit comes a series of classic Beam aromas. (Though a wisp of peach rings and tart apple never quite departs.) Dark caramel and nutty praline meets almond extract and mesquite-infused barbecue sauce, along with deeply stewed tomatoes, both sweet and mildly acidic. It’s plenty oaky without wood ever fully leading; there’s some clear and intentional balance between the various aged whiskeys, with Freddie Noe opting out of the 15+ year components that sometimes find their way into these blends. Rye spice, pineapple glaze, and baked cloves round out the nose, which is also bookended by a final pop of cherry Jolly Rancher.

Taste

Given its high ABV and pronounced (but not out of line) alcohol on the nose, Chapter 9 is a little quiet at first sip. Here, “quiet” shouldn’t be confused with “muted,” and indeed, there’s plenty of flavor to parse. Brown sugar, vanilla bean, butterscotch, and blackstrap molasses lead, followed by glazed cinnamon buns and just a touch of ethanol. It’s sweet and moderately spiced, with hallmark Beam bourbon flavors leading before spicier rye creeps on in.

More cinnamon hits on the second taste, along with a mix of creamy chocolate and mint. Here, the dram reminds me of white chocolate peppermint bark, the kind most often encountered around the holidays. It’s a little tricky to suss out where the white chocolate ends and milk chocolate begins, but the impact is overall pretty pleasing and lends quite a bit of structure toward the midpalate. The spice is mintier and richer in clove compared to the nose; instead of cinnamon buns, the palate is closer to chocolate rugelach, slightly bready and not overly sweet.

Caramel-drizzled baked apples build even further back. The flavors aren’t as tart as the nose implied, but we’ve still got a significant — if somewhat late — burst of cooked orchard fruit.

Finish

Baked dough and hazelnuts take us through the finish, which turns a little more tannic (think: very dark chocolate) and dry than anticipated. There’s nice interplay here between chocolate, oak, cinnamon, and rye spice. It doesn’t absolutely blow me away, but there’s enough here for a pleasant final act.

Little Book Chapter 9 Rating

90/100

Recap

Little Book Chapter 9 is a pleasant and more-than-serviceable pour, with depth that likely puts it in the top quartile of Beam whiskeys flavor-wise. That said, it doesn’t reach the height of some of the absolute best in the series, especially compared to 2024’s excellent Chapter 8.

But overall, Noe has mostly nailed his self-assigned goal of using multiple liquid streams to highlight traditional American whiskey flavors. Fans of classic Beam profiles are the most likely to enjoy this one, though there’s certainly enough to keep most drinkers talking.

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90
POINTS
Little Book Chapter 9 Blended Whiskey
While the James B. Beam Distilling Co. boasts the world’s best-selling Kentucky bourbon, it’s not a company to completely sit on tradition. Indeed, over the past decade, Beam has been experimenting with new mashbills, grains, fermentation strategies, and distillation techniques. And perhaps no line of products showcases those better than Little Book. Curated and blended by eighth-generation master distiller Freddie Noe, Little Book is now on its ninth annual release. Technically, this is the 10th Little Book bottling overall, though it appears “The Infinite” series, first introduced in 2024, will be a somewhat separate series moving forward. Today, we’re looking at Little Book Chapter 9, dubbed “None For Granted.” The bottling is a blend of five Beam-distilled Kentucky whiskeys:
  • 11-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey
  • 8-year-old Kentucky straight rye whiskey
  • 8-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey
  • Two different 7-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskeys
Notably, the 8-year-old bourbon comes from a mashbill that incorporates brown rice. In another nod to innovation, one of the 7-year-old bourbons was allowed to ferment for five days instead of the standard three. A Beam representative has said the longer fermentation contributes to more pronounced fruit flavors, though we don’t know the exact percentage breakdown of each component here. While the blend contains some distilling twists, Noe’s ultimate goal with the release was to pay homage to the “founding flavors that made modern American whiskey.” According to Noe, that means a flavor profile “built on brown sweets, the comforting warmth of vanilla, creamy caramel, and big oak.” Little Book Chapter 9 is bottled at 121.6 proof. Let’s see how it tastes!

Little Book Chapter 9: Stats and Availability

The MSRP for this 2025 Little Book release is about $160, which is a roughly $10 increase compared to 2024’s version. (Note the price point for “The Infinite” series will likely continue to differentiate from these “standard” Little Book chapters moving forward.) This is a bottle that, while limited and allocated, is generally fairly easy to find on shelves from one year to the next. That said, I’ve seen a wide range of retail price points, from significantly under MSRP (especially at bulk retailers) to well north of $200.

Little Book Chapter 9 Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

The nose is brighter and fruitier than I first expected, even given the bourbon component subjected to a longer fermentation time. Green apple gummy candy, peach rings, and maraschino cherry lead, followed immediately by a hefty dose of ethanol that feels appropriate for the 121.6 proof. After the initial candy-like fruit comes a series of classic Beam aromas. (Though a wisp of peach rings and tart apple never quite departs.) Dark caramel and nutty praline meets almond extract and mesquite-infused barbecue sauce, along with deeply stewed tomatoes, both sweet and mildly acidic. It’s plenty oaky without wood ever fully leading; there’s some clear and intentional balance between the various aged whiskeys, with Freddie Noe opting out of the 15+ year components that sometimes find their way into these blends. Rye spice, pineapple glaze, and baked cloves round out the nose, which is also bookended by a final pop of cherry Jolly Rancher.

Taste

Given its high ABV and pronounced (but not out of line) alcohol on the nose, Chapter 9 is a little quiet at first sip. Here, “quiet” shouldn’t be confused with “muted,” and indeed, there’s plenty of flavor to parse. Brown sugar, vanilla bean, butterscotch, and blackstrap molasses lead, followed by glazed cinnamon buns and just a touch of ethanol. It’s sweet and moderately spiced, with hallmark Beam bourbon flavors leading before spicier rye creeps on in. More cinnamon hits on the second taste, along with a mix of creamy chocolate and mint. Here, the dram reminds me of white chocolate peppermint bark, the kind most often encountered around the holidays. It’s a little tricky to suss out where the white chocolate ends and milk chocolate begins, but the impact is overall pretty pleasing and lends quite a bit of structure toward the midpalate. The spice is mintier and richer in clove compared to the nose; instead of cinnamon buns, the palate is closer to chocolate rugelach, slightly bready and not overly sweet. Caramel-drizzled baked apples build even further back. The flavors aren’t as tart as the nose implied, but we’ve still got a significant — if somewhat late — burst of cooked orchard fruit.

Finish

Baked dough and hazelnuts take us through the finish, which turns a little more tannic (think: very dark chocolate) and dry than anticipated. There’s nice interplay here between chocolate, oak, cinnamon, and rye spice. It doesn’t absolutely blow me away, but there’s enough here for a pleasant final act.

Little Book Chapter 9 Rating

90/100

Recap

Little Book Chapter 9 is a pleasant and more-than-serviceable pour, with depth that likely puts it in the top quartile of Beam whiskeys flavor-wise. That said, it doesn’t reach the height of some of the absolute best in the series, especially compared to 2024’s excellent Chapter 8. But overall, Noe has mostly nailed his self-assigned goal of using multiple liquid streams to highlight traditional American whiskey flavors. Fans of classic Beam profiles are the most likely to enjoy this one, though there’s certainly enough to keep most drinkers talking.

Reviewed On: 07-08-2025
90
POINTS
Little Book Chapter 9 Blended Whiskey
While the James B. Beam Distilling Co. boasts the world’s best-selling Kentucky bourbon, it’s not a company to completely sit on tradition. Indeed, over the past decade, Beam has been experimenting with new mashbills, grains, fermentation strategies, and distillation techniques. And perhaps no line of products showcases those better than Little Book. Curated and blended by eighth-generation master distiller Freddie Noe, Little Book is now on its ninth annual release. Technically, this is the 10th Little Book bottling overall, though it appears “The Infinite” series, first introduced in 2024, will be a somewhat separate series moving forward. Today, we’re looking at Little Book Chapter 9, dubbed “None For Granted.” The bottling is a blend of five Beam-distilled Kentucky whiskeys:
  • 11-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey
  • 8-year-old Kentucky straight rye whiskey
  • 8-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey
  • Two different 7-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskeys
Notably, the 8-year-old bourbon comes from a mashbill that incorporates brown rice. In another nod to innovation, one of the 7-year-old bourbons was allowed to ferment for five days instead of the standard three. A Beam representative has said the longer fermentation contributes to more pronounced fruit flavors, though we don’t know the exact percentage breakdown of each component here. While the blend contains some distilling twists, Noe’s ultimate goal with the release was to pay homage to the “founding flavors that made modern American whiskey.” According to Noe, that means a flavor profile “built on brown sweets, the comforting warmth of vanilla, creamy caramel, and big oak.” Little Book Chapter 9 is bottled at 121.6 proof. Let’s see how it tastes!

Little Book Chapter 9: Stats and Availability

The MSRP for this 2025 Little Book release is about $160, which is a roughly $10 increase compared to 2024’s version. (Note the price point for “The Infinite” series will likely continue to differentiate from these “standard” Little Book chapters moving forward.) This is a bottle that, while limited and allocated, is generally fairly easy to find on shelves from one year to the next. That said, I’ve seen a wide range of retail price points, from significantly under MSRP (especially at bulk retailers) to well north of $200.

Little Book Chapter 9 Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

The nose is brighter and fruitier than I first expected, even given the bourbon component subjected to a longer fermentation time. Green apple gummy candy, peach rings, and maraschino cherry lead, followed immediately by a hefty dose of ethanol that feels appropriate for the 121.6 proof. After the initial candy-like fruit comes a series of classic Beam aromas. (Though a wisp of peach rings and tart apple never quite departs.) Dark caramel and nutty praline meets almond extract and mesquite-infused barbecue sauce, along with deeply stewed tomatoes, both sweet and mildly acidic. It’s plenty oaky without wood ever fully leading; there’s some clear and intentional balance between the various aged whiskeys, with Freddie Noe opting out of the 15+ year components that sometimes find their way into these blends. Rye spice, pineapple glaze, and baked cloves round out the nose, which is also bookended by a final pop of cherry Jolly Rancher.

Taste

Given its high ABV and pronounced (but not out of line) alcohol on the nose, Chapter 9 is a little quiet at first sip. Here, “quiet” shouldn’t be confused with “muted,” and indeed, there’s plenty of flavor to parse. Brown sugar, vanilla bean, butterscotch, and blackstrap molasses lead, followed by glazed cinnamon buns and just a touch of ethanol. It’s sweet and moderately spiced, with hallmark Beam bourbon flavors leading before spicier rye creeps on in. More cinnamon hits on the second taste, along with a mix of creamy chocolate and mint. Here, the dram reminds me of white chocolate peppermint bark, the kind most often encountered around the holidays. It’s a little tricky to suss out where the white chocolate ends and milk chocolate begins, but the impact is overall pretty pleasing and lends quite a bit of structure toward the midpalate. The spice is mintier and richer in clove compared to the nose; instead of cinnamon buns, the palate is closer to chocolate rugelach, slightly bready and not overly sweet. Caramel-drizzled baked apples build even further back. The flavors aren’t as tart as the nose implied, but we’ve still got a significant — if somewhat late — burst of cooked orchard fruit.

Finish

Baked dough and hazelnuts take us through the finish, which turns a little more tannic (think: very dark chocolate) and dry than anticipated. There’s nice interplay here between chocolate, oak, cinnamon, and rye spice. It doesn’t absolutely blow me away, but there’s enough here for a pleasant final act.

Little Book Chapter 9 Rating

90/100

Recap

Little Book Chapter 9 is a pleasant and more-than-serviceable pour, with depth that likely puts it in the top quartile of Beam whiskeys flavor-wise. That said, it doesn’t reach the height of some of the absolute best in the series, especially compared to 2024’s excellent Chapter 8. But overall, Noe has mostly nailed his self-assigned goal of using multiple liquid streams to highlight traditional American whiskey flavors. Fans of classic Beam profiles are the most likely to enjoy this one, though there’s certainly enough to keep most drinkers talking.

Reviewed On: 07-08-2025