Day 23 of DB's Bourbon Trail 2024 Advent Calendar - Booker's "The Beam House Batch" 2024-02

Derek Burkhard
Oct 30, 2024
5 min read

Updated: Dec 23, 2024

Cheers and welcome to our 5th Annual Advent Calendar!

This month, we’re embarking on a high-end bourbon journey, reviewing 25 bourbons from award-winning distilleries across the United States. From December 1st to December 25th, we’ll explore everything from small batches to single barrels, all packed with flavor. Join us in toasting to another incredible year as we share some of our favorite bottles with you!

Our reviews are done using a Glencairn glass and neat, but remember, it’s your bourbon! Enjoy it however you like—over ice, with water, or in a cocktail. The key is to enjoy it your way and not let others influence your experience.

Enough of me rambling. Now, let’s dive into what brought us here!

Day 23 of DB’s Bourbon Trail 2024 Advent Calendar

BOOKER’S “THE BEAM HOUSE BATCH” 2024 - 02

Proof:

124.6 Proof (62.3%)

Distillery:

Jim Beam Distillery (Bardstown, KY)

Age Statement:

7 years, 2 months, and 22 days

Message on the bottle:

The whiskey in this package is the highest grade Bourbon created by me here at Jim Beam. It is bottled uncut and unfiltered. My grandfather, Jim Beam liked his whiskey from 6 to 8 years old."

"Booker's Bourbon is quality screened to remove only pieces of charred barrel wood.

Batch Story:

The second release of the Booker's® Bourbon 2024 Collection is Booker's Batch 2024-02 “The Beam House Batch." This batch is named after my family's home, a real special place full of beginnings, traditions, and memories not just for me, but for everyone at Beam.

I grew up just around the corner and lived next door for years before moving in after Dad passed away. "The Beam House," as the name suggests, has been part of my family for generations- my great grandad, Jim Beam lived here, my dad, Booker Noe, lived here, and now I do. It's just kind of the way it goes in our family.

We've always spent a lot of time here together, whether it's for Sunday dinners, drinking bourbon on the porch, or doing tastings for batches of Booker's. Back when I lived next door, I used to walk across the yard with samples from the plant so Dad and whoever else was lucky enough to be there could gather round the kitchen table and taste them over some barbecue.

Booker loved to entertain and always wanted to bring people through the house. Lord knows how many people have been here over the years; friends, neighbors, business partners, employees. Everyone's welcome. Dad loved when people would stop by and come on out back for a drink, and now it's a tradition I'm proud to carry on.

In this batch, l've tried to capture some of the joyful memories I've made in the Beam House for you to enjoy at yours.

- Fred Noe, Beam Family 7th Generation Master Distiller

Master Distiller Notes:

The Beam House batch is a special one for me since it's named after our family home and has so many special memories. The batch is made up of five production dates stored in four different warehouse locations. The age of the batch will be 7 years 2 months and 22 days when the barrels are dumped. The proof of the batch will be 124.6 proof.

The breakdown of barrel storage for the Booker's "Beam House Batch" is as follows:

14% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Z

28% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse 3

14% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse 3

19% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse &

25% came from the 7th floor of 9-story warehouse H

The color of the batch is a rich and deep amber, inviting you to put your nose deep into the glass and enjoy the aroma. The nose is pleasant with vanilla and some dried fruits notes enticing you to take a taste. When I tasted this batch, the warm flavor that spread through my mouth reminded me of sitting on the porch of the Beam home. The welcoming aroma and taste lead to a long and pleasantly sweeter finish coming from the aging in oak barrels. I know you will enjoy this batch of Booker's named for the place many Beam family members called home, and where I call home today.

- Fred Noe, Beam Family 7th Generation Master Distiller

Price Point:

At DB’s Bourbon Trail, we use BoozApp (not sponsored) to ensure fair pricing on our bourbon purchases. Nothing is worse than overpaying due to supply and demand games.
- Average MSRP:
  - $95.99
- Fair Price:
  - $128.89
- Shelf Price:
  - $189.99
- DB’s Bourbon Trail Instant Buy Price:
  - <$99.99

Review:

When I was looking to pick a Booker’s for this years calendar - this one really stood out to me. The story alone was a winner and how I try to live my life of sharing pours and bringing folks together! Then after I tasted it, I knew right away this was the winner! Let’s dive in and hope you all enjoy!

Nose:

The aroma is bold yet welcoming, showcasing the signature Booker’s proof and nutty profile. It begins with scents of Big Red chewing gum and my smoker during football season! All jokes aside, it does have a nice BBQ vibe too it with hints of peanuts.

Palate:

This pour continues to offer a bold and spicy journey into the palate. The initial warmth is matched perfectly by all the rich flavors you look for in a bourbon: caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak. The high proof is there but is seamlessly integrated throughout the pour allowing for a flavor packed sip. As you dive deeper into the palate there are sweeter notes from peanuts, dark fruit that is intertwined with a little touch of spice from pepper and cinnamon spice.

Finish:

The finish is long and warming. It most definitely has a lingering spice that is completmented with a touch sweetness. It’s in between a peanut butter sweetness or a Sweet Heat BBQ that pairs with cinnamon and vanilla run into the finish.

Final Thoughts:

The one thing that I love about Booker’s and their different batch stories are that they open up and allow us to be apart of their family traditions. More importantly, their bottles are made to be shared and to raise a glass to their family and the ones you chose to share it with. Best part, if you’re reading this - that’s you!

As we dive in - what an incredible pour! Anything from Jim Beam always has a little hint of peanut to me and this bottle stays true. This is a solid pour and 10/10 recommend trying a Booker’s pour every chance you can get!

Cheers y’all! 🥃

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