Booker’s Blue Knights Batch is the second of the 2017 Booker’s releases. Booker’s has always been among my favorite bourbons because of its rich dense oaky profile so it’s something I always look forward to trying. While a cask strength / barrel proof bourbon isn’t entirely unique in the category anymore it is still fairly rare in the grand scheme of things. It’s the closest thing to getting it straight out of the cask yourself.
In Jim Beam’s Words: Booker’s Blue Knights Batch
“Booker’s Blue Knights Batch is culled from barrels from four different production dates located in four different warehouses. The nose is sweet with vanilla notes, mixed with wood from the white oak barrels. The mingling aromas and tastes from different barrels makes this a great, well balanced batch.”
Here’s where it all came from.
- 2% from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse ONE
- 38% from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse D
- 33% from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse F
- 27% from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse J
And with that let’s get on with the Booker’s Blue Knights Batch review!
Booker’s Blue Knights Batch Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Jim Beam
Mashbill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 6 years 3 months 6 Days
ABV: 63.7%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Batch: 2017-02
Price: $75*
Booker’s Blue Knights Batch Review
EYE
Caramel
NOSE
Oak roasted peanuts; layers of dark fruit, baking spice, cocoa, toffee, leather and a bit of maple and an herbal character. Pleasant.
PALATE
Oak roasted peanuts; layers of cinnamon, dark fruit, cocoa, leather, toffee, clove, brown sugar and a light herbal character. Also pleasant.
FINISH
Long slow drive of oak, peanuts, brown sugar, clove and an herbal spice.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Nicely balanced, full body and a heavy oily feel.
OVERALL
Booker’s Blue Knights Batch is perfectly pleasant. Lately I’ve been coming home, pouring a glass and relaxing after a long hard day of working for the internet. It’s something I’m more than happy to sniff, sip and enjoy. In short, I like it.
It has a dominating character of peanuts roasted over oak with some wonderful dark fruit and dark sweets coming through as secondary layers. With some water the herbal character gets a bit stronger but no massive shift occur. Booker’s Blue Knights Batch is just… nice.
SCORE: 87/100 (B+)
*Disclosure: This Booker's Blue Knights Batch was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Booker's Blue Knights Batch Review - Score Breakdown
Summary
Booker’s Blue Knights Batch is good.
Overall
- Nose - 87
- Palate - 87
- Finish - 87
- Balance, Body & Feel - 87
User Review
( votes)
Hi, I have an unopened bottle of Bookers 2017-02 blue knights. Just wondering if it will get smoother with age?
Paul
It’s cask strength so not likely. But add some water or sip over ice and it will even out. Cheers Paul
Josh, I just walked into a random liquor store attached to a ShopRite not far from me and saw a bottle of this (Blue Knights batch) for $89. Four years later!! Never had it, wondering if it’s worth the price. This one, Boston Batch, or Donohue’s Batch? Thanks, man!
Hey Mateo,
I’d take Boston Batch over the Blue Kights if you can get it. Cheers!
This is my very first bottle of bourbon. I’m coming from the highland single malt scotch sherried cask finished types and can’t wait to taste this.
Cheers!
As always, love to see what you’re take is…i’m interested to see how this bottle opens up. I’ve only had (and recently laid to rest) the 2016-02 “Annis’ answer,” and i don’t truthfully know whether it was the bottle or my pallet that changed, but it was my first introduction to Booker’s, and i started off thinking it was interesting/bold and ended, about four months later, thinking it was everything bourbon should be and wishing everything in my cabinet was it.
This bottle has the same familiar flavors, but still am hoping it turns into something even more similar to what i ended up with in that first/last bottle, which is the marlboro red of bourbon – bold, melt your face caramel oakstraviganza…though preferably slightly less lethal.
I can still get Booker’s for ~$60, though it’s on shelves more often for $70 and $80. Should i ever be faced with the prospect of having to pay those prices, i might change my tune, but, for now, Booker’s feels like a bargain.
Cheers RJ. Thank you and thanks for sharing. Totally agree with the price and based on what my last taste (a couple weeks ago) it hasn’t changed too much, still feels about the same.
In my opinion I feel you have under graded this batch. You even state you enjoy drinking this one. Maybe you did it to keep it one the shelves longer LOL!! Either way I think its a solid 90.
Thanks for all you do!
Ha, cheers Jeremy :) I do like it, but not as much as some of the 2016 batches… but it is good. Thanks!
Hi Josh – I came across a liquor store in town that has a few different batches of Booker’s. However, they don’t have any bottles of Noe Secret or Off Your Rocker. If you had to choose another batch from 2015-2017, which would be your favorite? Thanks.
If they have Center Cut grab that. It’s awesome!