Booker's 7 Year Old Bourbon Batch 2024-01E

Booker Noe, grandson of Jim Beam, released this barrel-strength bourbon whiskey in the late 1980s. He drew his casks from the centre of the rackhouse, where steady temperature and humidity age the whiskey best. This first batch of 2024 is the Springfield Batch, named after his Kentucky hometown.

It gathers five different production dates from four separate ageing warehouses, each lending its own character. The whiskey is uncut and only lightly screened, so nothing of the flavour is stripped away. Aged seven years, it is bottled at a formidable 62.2% proof. A drop of water tames the heat and opens it up.

• It leads on the nose with sweet vanilla, caramel and toasted oak.
• The palate is powerful and rich, with charred oak, brown sugar and a touch of citrus.
• It has a long and warming finish, with lingering oak and spice.

Sip it neat first, then loosen it with a large ice cube or a splash of water. It handles rich food, so try it with barbecue ribs, smoked brisket or a mature cheddar.