Booker’s Bourbon Batch 2026-01 "Big Easy Batch"

Booker's Bourbon Batch 2026-01 "Big Easy Batch." Jim Beam Distillery, Clermont, Kentucky — the first Booker's Bourbon release of 2026, named in honor of New Orleans — one of Booker Noe's favorite cities — aged 7 years, 2 months, and 15 days and bottled uncut and unfiltered at 129.1 proof (64.55% ABV), delivering vanilla, baking spice, clove, red fruit, raisin, plum, chocolate-covered cherry, hazelnut, and roasted nuts on the nose with a full-bodied palate and a long finish of spice, tannic oak, dry leather, and lingering warmth.

Booker's Bourbon is Booker Noe's original barrel-strength expression — the founding product of the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection (1992) and the one that set the standard for uncut, unfiltered American bourbon long before barrel-proof releases became mainstream. Each named batch is selected and released once, representing a specific flavor profile from a specific moment in the Booker's program. Batch 2026-01 is the first named batch of 2026, carrying the "Big Easy" name as a tribute to New Orleans: a city Booker loved for its spirit, its food, and its commitment to doing things on its own terms.

At 7 years, 2 months, and 15 days — the kind of exact age statement that Booker's has always provided — Big Easy Batch reflects barrels pulled across multiple warehouse locations at their optimal point. The 129.1 proof is the barrels' natural concentration after over seven years of Kentucky aging. No water added, no chill filtration: what's in the bottle is exactly what came out of the wood.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Vanilla, baking spice, clove, and roasted nuts lead with red fruit, raisin, plum, chocolate-covered cherry, and hazelnut developing underneath. Classic Booker's density at 129.1 proof.
• Palate: Full-bodied and rich with brown sugar, warm oak, and the multi-layer complexity that multi-warehouse barrel selection creates. The proof delivers intensity without harshness — the hallmark of a well-selected Booker's batch.
• Finish: Long and warming with spice, tannic oak, dry leather, and lingering warmth. Allow several minutes in the glass before the first sip for the full aromatic profile to open.

Specs

• Distillery: Jim Beam Distillery, Clermont, Kentucky (Beam Suntory)
• Batch: 2026-01 — Big Easy Batch (first batch of 2026)
• Named For: New Orleans — Booker Noe's favorite city
• Age: 7 years, 2 months, 15 days
• ABV: 64.55% (129.1 Proof)
• Filtration: Uncut, unfiltered
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Booker's Big Easy Batch taste like? Vanilla, baking spice, clove, red fruit, raisin, plum, chocolate-covered cherry, hazelnut, and roasted nuts on the nose. Full-bodied with brown sugar and warm oak on the palate. Long finish with spice, tannic oak, dry leather, and lingering warmth.
• How old is Booker's 2026-01 Big Easy Batch? 7 years, 2 months, and 15 days — the exact age at time of bottling, in keeping with Booker's tradition of precise age statements on every named batch.
• What proof is Booker's Big Easy Batch? 129.1 proof (64.55% ABV) — the natural barrel strength at time of bottling, uncut and unfiltered.
• How should I drink 129.1 proof bourbon? Neat in a tasting glass with several minutes of air before the first sip. A few drops of water can open additional sweetness and fruit. A large ice cube works for a slower pour. Best treated as a high-proof sipping bourbon rather than a mixer.