Booker's Bourbon Batch 2023-02 "Apprentice Batch" Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 125.5 Proof 750ml

Booker's Bourbon Batch 2023-02, known as "Apprentice Batch," is the second release of the 2023 Booker's Small Batch Bourbon Collection, and a tribute to the beginning of everything — the moment in 1952 when a young Booker Noe first walked through the doors of the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont and began learning his craft under the guidance of his cousin, Carl Beam. Carl was a demanding mentor, a man who ran a tight ship and didn't put up with foolishness. But he also recognized talent. Booker was a fast learner and got straight to work, quickly earning Carl's respect and approval. Two years into Booker's tenure, Jim Beam acquired a new distillery in Boston, Kentucky to expand production capabilities. Carl and Booker worked side by side to get it up and running — and then Carl handed Booker the reins. This was where Booker was given room to experiment, to develop his instincts, and to truly begin mastering the bourbon-making process. That Boston distillery was later renamed the Booker Noe Distillery in his honor. The apprenticeship that Carl Beam provided gave Booker Noe the foundation for everything that followed: the creation of Booker's Bourbon, the coining of "small batch," and 40 years as one of the most influential Master Distillers in American whiskey history. Bottled at 62.75% ABV and 125.5 proof, uncut and unfiltered, aged 7 years, 1 month, and 2 days, drawn from six warehouses with 36% anchored by the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse Z. Presented in the classic Booker's dark wood box with glass panel. Now a back vintage from the 2023 collection.

ABV / Proof

Tasting Notes

Color: Deep orange amber — medium-dark and richly saturated, with sticky legs and slow-falling droplets that signal the oily, full-bodied character within.

Nose: Caramel, pecans, and roasted peanuts blast from the glass with oak and tobacco in support. Anise, toasted nuts, and cedar develop with time, alongside hints of vanilla and spice. Oak-forward but well-balanced with sweet aromatics.

Palate: Thick and coating — caramel, pecan, and corn up front, followed by vanilla, peanuts, and tobacco at mid-palate. Leather, charred oak, and cherries at the back. Candied pistachios and cinnamon add complexity alongside a mixed-fruit marmalade quality that builds through the sip. More multifaceted than a standard Booker's pour.

Finish: Long and warm with caramel, dried fruit, strawberries, and currants intensifying into a fireball close. One of the longer and more expressive finishes in recent Booker's batches despite the 7-year age profile.

FAQ

Who was Carl Beam and why is this batch named after him?
Carl Beam was Booker Noe's cousin and the man who mentored him when Booker first joined the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont in 1952. Carl was the senior figure in charge — a no-nonsense teacher who expected Booker to learn fast and work hard. When Jim Beam acquired the Boston, Kentucky distillery two years later, Carl and Booker worked together to establish it, and then Carl stepped back and gave Booker the freedom to take the reins. That distillery became Booker's proving ground, and was later renamed the Booker Noe Distillery. Without Carl's apprenticeship, there may never have been a Booker's Bourbon. This batch honors that foundational mentor-student bond.

How does 2023-02 compare to other 2023 Booker's releases?
We also carry the 2023-03 Mighty Fine Batch, the third release of the same year. Apprentice Batch at 125.5 proof sits just below Mighty Fine Batch at 126.6 proof, with similar age statements. The two make a natural 2023 pairing for collectors building out the year. Check our store for current availability across the full Booker's lineup.

Where can I buy Booker's Apprentice Batch online?
Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.