Booker’s “Backyard BBQ” Bourbon Review (02-2018)

By Debbie Shocair

Rating: B+

“Fred, Make sure they don’t mess with my Booker’s.”

That was Booker Noe’s one request of his son, Fred, who would take over after his father, a sixth-generation master distiller, retired. Since taking over as the now seventh generation of master distillers at Jim Beam, Fred has faithfully released a few special batches of Booker’s namesake cask strength whiskey, each one carefully chosen and then bottled, “uncut and unfiltered.”

The barrels for Booker’s are usually chosen from the center of the warehouse, and Backyard BBQ is no exception. The barrels for this particular high-proof batch came from the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th floors of several different warehouses, and it was bottled at a burly 128.8°. The label inside the box notes the age as 6 years, 2 months, and 10 days.

Fred Noe says he named this particular batch in remembrance of his father’s festive summer barbeques, fondly called “Bourbon-ques,” which always included pork chops flambeed with Booker’s bourbon.

Booker’s Backyard BBQ comes packaged in what has become a familiar wooden box, an acrylic sliding lid proudly emblazoned with the name. It is an altogether pretty package, and while I seldom comment on the color of a whiskey in a review, I will take a moment to note that Backyard BBQ is a beautiful burnt sienna – one of the loveliest shades I’ve seen in a whiskey.

The Bourbon
On the nose, this hefty uncut, 128.8 proof bourbon was rife with sweet, sweet marshmallow. There was also plenty of vanilla and light notes of grassiness and hay, but the aroma was overwhelmingly sweet – pleasant and surprisingly so, with very low notes of oak and honey.

Breaking the bourbon with a ½ teaspoon of water caused the grassy notes to step forward, but all of the candy sweetness remained prominent.

The mouthfeel was all over as well as under the tongue – not surprising for a nearly 130 proof beast.

The medium finish was oaky, then sweet, with clear notes of cinnamon, clove, smoke, and just a hint of peaches. Very nice.

Lovely. Lovely. Lovely. Backyard BBQ is perhaps my favorite of the Booker’s series thusfar, and though it is all of 128.8 proof, it doesn’t pack too big a punch – just a little warmth but not hot. This small batch bourbon proves that a high proof spirit can be all flavor with little heat, unlike some (even prominent brands) that tend to be all heat and no flavor.

It’s a great sipper…maybe with just a splash of your favorite mixer, if you like, or even in your favorite cocktail. As Fred Noe is fond of saying, “How should you drink your bourbon? Any damn way you like.”

The Price
Like all Booker’s releases, this item officially runs about $75.