Booker’s 2021-04 Noe Stranger’s Batch

Great but again priced a bit too high at most locations – buy if able to acquire at MSRP

DISTILLERY	Jim Beam
REGION	Clermont, KY
AGE	6 Years 6 Months & 12 Days
STRENGTH	62.2% ABV (124.4 Proof)
MASHBILL	77% corn, 13% rye, and 10% malted barley
MSRP	$70-100

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GLANCE

Clear with gold amber color and appears very viscous.

Makeup of Noe Stranger’s Batch

“3% came from the 2nd floor of 9-story warehouse H
27% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse D
39% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse J
31% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Q”

NOSE

Oak and toasted cinnamon hits you right away. I got aromas of graham cracker, marshmallow and sweet grain. The vanillas enter with hint of caramel. The toasted peanuts and nuttiness is prevalent here. No dark fruits or jam aromas. Off a fresh crack the ethanol is a bit strong here and you have to dig past it. I did rest the spirit in the glen for 10 mins before nosing.

PALATE

Loved the mouthfeel here. Oily and the spirit coats your mouth well. More on the sweeter side but the spice and oak keeps it in check. Strong notes of peanut butter, toasted peanut and hint of toasted cashew. Raw oak with underlying flavors of dark cocoa, espresso, and honey.

FINISH

Long with some complexity. Honey, caramel, vanilla with peanut butter

CLOSING REMARKS

Strong showing from Booker’s in this offering of the 2021-04 Noe Stranger’s Batch. Still more on the younger side with a reduced blend profile, does the trick in delivering some delicious flavors. Only downside for me is the raw oak & ethanol seem to interfere with the palate and nose (overpowers it at times – but as the bottle has been open for longer this has been less of an issue). Cheers!

From Fred Noe

“Label Inspiration

Take for example when Dad took a liking to the products that a salesman was selling. He would call out to Mom and say, “Set an extra plate at the table, I’m inviting this salesman to dinner!” Another time, Dad was invited to a rally for the Blue Knights® Motorcycle Club, an international brotherhood of active and retired law enforcement officers who share a passion for motorcycle riding. There he struck up a conversation with some of the members, and the next day, more than 300 of them were invited to the house for lunch.
His knack for making friends carried into his work as well. Here in Kentucky and out on the road, Dad wouldn’t leave a bourbon event until he shook hands with everyone that wanted to talk to him. He’d listen to stories from every customer he met and just like that, they’d become a fan – and a friend – for life. Dad taught us to ‘treat others how we would want to be treated’– a lesson our family holds true to this day. It’s just the way us Noes are wired.
As you enjoy “Noe Strangers Batch,” I hope you’ll think of Dad and his generous way of making everyone he met feel at home. Like we always say at the distillery: come as friends, leave as family.”

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