Booker’s Bourbon Noe Secret is the 6th and final roundtable bourbon in this year’s limited releases. it was selected by the committee listed below whose job was to taste a bunch of cherry picked barrels and decide which barrels (and the barrels around them) would go into making this batch of Booker’s. Doesn’t sound like too bad of an afternoon and maybe someday I’ll be lucky enough to be invited to one of those roundtables. Probably not, but at least we get to enjoy the fruits of their “labor”.
The roundtable responsible for the Noe Secret release:
- F. Paul Pacult – Editor of F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal and Founder of Ultimate Beverage Challenge
- Geoff Kleinman – Founder and Managing Editor of DrinkSpirits.com
- Jack Robertiello – Spirits Writer and Spirits Competition Judge
- John McCarthy – Spirits Writer and Senior Managing Editor of Men’s Health Magazine
- Tony Sachs – Spirits Writer For Robb Vices and Serious Eats
- Guest Panelist: Kevin Sintumuang – Digital Director for The Wall Street Journal\
- Guest Panelist: G. Clay Whittaker – Freelance Writer for Men’s Journal and Forbes
Booker’s Bourbon Noe Secret Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Jim Beam
Mashbill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted barley
Cask: New charred oak
Age: 6 years, 8 months and 7 days
ABV: 64.05%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Batch: 2015-06
Price: $65*
Booker’s Bourbon Noe Secret Review
EYE
Ruddy orangish carmel
NOSE
Expressive and full, the aroma alone is intoxicating with heavy notes of caramel corn, dark fruit, wood, vanilla, cinnamon heavy spice, brown sugar, molasses cookies and pie crust. That yeastiness I tend to find in Jim Beam glides through so lightly it could just be my imagination.
PALATE
Raspberry heavy dark fruit, wood, candied orange peels, toffee, cinnamon and nutmeg heavy baking spice, vanilla and a savory spiced – almost herbal – undertone. The raspberry dark fruit triggered a thought of old National Distillers OGD. I’m not saying it’s a 1:1 comparison, but there’s an essence to this that’s familiar and that’s what comes swimming up from the back of my mind.
FINISH
Long and filled with notes of caramel, wood, grain, spice and brown sugar.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Fantastic balance, full body and a rich oily mouthfeel.
OVERALL
Booker’s Bourbon Noe Secret is hands down the best Booker’s I’ve had in 7 or 8 years. The previous release of Booker’s I reviewed was from a bottle I picked up while living in Utah and sat on my shelf as a backup for a couple years before being boxed up and brought to CA with me in 2010. I opened it up in early 2014 and it’s been my yardstick for comparing other Booker’s releases ever since since. Which, to be honest, none of the Booker’s I’ve had between then and now have matched up… till now.
Obviously I haven’t had every batch of Booker’s released between 2008 and now, (I still want to try The Center Cut & 25th), but I’ve had a fair share of batches between friends and bars and until now I haven’t had one that made me sit up and take notice. If I were to have this one at the bar I definitely would have asked the bartender to see the bottle to know what to look for – it’s a seriously tasty whiskey.
SCORE: 93/100
*Disclosure: This bottle of Booker’s Bourbon Noe Secret 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 Bourbon Noe Secret review - Score Breakdown
Summary
Booker’s Bourbon Noe Secret is the best batch of Booker’s I’ve had in a long time. It’s rich, complex, inviting and a great value at it’s current price. This is definitely a Booker’s to seek out if you’re a fan of Jim Beam whiskey.
Overall
- Nose - 93
- Palate - 93
- Finish - 93
- Balance, Body & Feel - 93
Literally just cracked this open – it’s my first Booker’s experience and I’m blown away – what a cinnamon spice bomb. Loving it, also amazed that for something at 126 proof it needs nothing to cut past the alcohol unlike a lot of barrel proofs that I have in the stash. Definitely a bottle I’m going to savor!
Have really been enjoying a bottle of Booker’s Maw Maw’s 5th batch of 2015. After reading this review of Booker’s Noe Secret I picked up 2 bottles. Excited to try it. If it is better than Maw Maw’s then it will be amazing. Have you had Maw Maw’s? I couldn’t find a review on Maw Maw’s.
Hey Jeremy,
I didn’t get to try Maw Maw’s, but I’ve been keeping my eye out. Cheers!
Thanks for the recommendation Josh. I picked up a bottle of Noe’s Secret and it is really solid.
I was not a huge fan of Booker’s until tasting this batch.
I’m going to see about finding some of the other batches that have strong reviews.
Keep up the great work. I love your reviews and my tasting notes/preferences seem to be very similar to yours. It’s great to find a reviewer that you trust!!!
Thanks Mike, I really appreciate that. Cheers man!
I have the center cut Booker’s but after this review i ran out and got this version as well. It truly is delicious. There is so much flavor with every sip. And the reviews palate remarks are spot on. I love barrel proof bourbons as it is and this is exceptional and runs about what other barrel proofs run. Be aware “Alan” will probably be along here crapping on this bourbon soon since it is a Beam product.
I’m not a fan of Beam products at all, but I did pick up a bottle of the 25th Anniversary a while back. I haven’t gotten around to it as I’m not sure whether to just drink it or give it as a gift to someone who would appreciate more. Any suggestions?
My birthday is in March…
Another great review, Josh. Thanks for the heads up on this batch.
Oh… you’re killing my wallet! :)
Hahaha I’m sorry, but also not because that means you’re drinking good whiskey!