Booker's 2022-02 The Lumberyard Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750ml

Booker's Batch 2022-02 "The Lumberyard Batch" is a spectacular, cask-strength 124.8 proof (62.4% ABV) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey introduced in the summer of 2022 by the James B. Beam Distilling Co. based in Clermont, Kentucky. Serving as the highly sought-after second installment in the distillery's 2022 small-batch campaign, this unadulterated expression captures the true essence of traditional bluegrass distilling, arriving straight from the barrel wood without undergoing any flavor-altering chill filtration or proof dilution shortcuts.

The evocative title of this specific allocation pays a direct, respectful homage to a vital physical workplace from Booker Noe’s youth, long before he achieved global bourbon fame. "The Lumberyard Batch" references the local lumberyard facility in small-town Springfield, Kentucky, where a young Booker spent several years working a grueling, hands-on day job. This demanding blue-collar environment instilled a lifelong appreciation for heavy physical labor, grit, and the raw properties of structural oak timber—formative life lessons that permanently molded his straightforward character and his signature approach to harvesting deep char qualities from the distillery's barrels.

To celebrate the patience, sweat, and rustic origins of its iconic namesake, 7th-generation Master Distiller Fred Noe engineered a complex blending recipe drawn from seven separate production dates. The selected barrels spent their maturation cycles resting within the centers of seven different aging facilities—including Warehouse 3, Warehouse H, Warehouse M, Warehouse X, and Warehouse Z. Fred Noe’s objective for this second 2022 release was to achieve a deeply rustic, classic "old-school" Beam character, utilizing the precise mid-tier warehouse microclimates to shape a heavy, oily texture that balances intense oak tannins with traditional corn sweetness.

The distillery's formal tasting profile notes a remarkably attractive nose that opens on vanilla extract, deep wood baking spices, fresh cut wood shavings, and dark cherry cola. The full-bodied palate coats the mouth with a thick, syrupy texture, driving distinct, bold flavors of rich caramel, toasted tree nuts, bold molasses, and sweet oak char balanced by a sharp hint of black pepper. It transitions seamlessly into a long, persistent finish that delivers a classic, warming presence characterized by soft wood tannins, lingering cinnamon spice, and a sweet tobacco leaf trail that remains clean on the back of the throat.

For discerning spirits collectors and high-end bourbon enthusiasts, this beige-tagged bottle serves as a stellar representation of artisanal barrel-proof blending, making it an essential acquisition for completing annual flight tastings. Packaged inside the classic dark wooden presentation chest and displaying the iconic handwritten font on the label, it stands as an authentic, full-strength tribute to the hard-working foundation that shaped the brand's contemporary identity.

• Size: 750ml
• Proof: 124.8 Proof (62.4% ABV)
• Age: 7 Years, 1 Month, 7 Days
• Origin: Clermont, Kentucky, USA
• Distillery: James B. Beam Distilling Co. (Clermont, KY)
• Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Uncut and Unfiltered)
• Cask/Cooperage: Multi-warehouse new fire-charred American white oak barrels (7 rackhouses)
• Bottling: Released July 2022; second batch of the annual small batch collection
• Series: Booker's Bourbon 2022 Small Batch Collection
• Selection: Curated and approved by Seventh-Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe
• Tasting Notes: Nose: Deep vanilla, sweet baking spices, fresh cut wood shavings, and dark cherry cola. Palate: Thick and syrupy texture, rich caramel, toasted nuts, bold molasses, and sweet oak char. Finish: Long, warming, and clean with lingering cinnamon spice, soft wood tannins, and sweet tobacco leaf.