Booker's 2020-03 Pigskin Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750ml

Booker's Batch 2020-03 "Pigskin Batch" is an absolute powerhouse, cask-strength 127.3 proof (63.65% ABV) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey debuted in December 2020 by the James B. Beam Distilling Co. based out of Clermont, Kentucky. Serving as the highly celebrated third and final installment of the distillery’s 2020 Small Batch Collection, this unadulterated spirit delivers the exact uncut, non-chill filtered profile championed by late master distiller Booker Noe, arriving in its 750ml glass vessel completely free of modern filtration shortcuts or flavor-altering dilution.

The highly engaging backstory behind the title honors a personal athletic legacy and a lifelong seasonal tradition that the legendary master distiller championed away from the copper stills. "Pigskin Batch" references Booker Noe’s profound, lifelong adoration for American football. Standing a massive six feet four inches tall and weighing nearly 300 pounds, a young Booker was a terrifyingly quick force on the gridiron, playing both tackle and kicker for his high school team and later practicing with the University of Kentucky varsity squad. He carried that gridiron passion into retirement, building goal posts in his backyard for his grandchildren and turning autumn football watch parties into an absolute family ritual.

To celebrate the robust energy and warm camaraderie of these autumn gatherings, 7th-generation Master Distiller Fred Noe carefully curated a complex blend harvested across two distinct production dates. The underlying recipe relies on a multi-warehouse assembly drawn from five separate aging facilities across the facility grounds, providing a meticulous balance of microclimates: 32% was harvested from the 4th floor of Warehouse X, 27% from the 5th floor of Warehouse M, 15% from the 6th floor of Warehouse H, 14% from the 6th floor of Warehouse L, and the final 12% pulled from the 5th floor of Warehouse Z. This targeted mid-to-high floor distribution coaxed massive wood sugars from the staves, yielding an exceptionally dark henna profile that collectors frequently rank among the finest releases of its era.

The distillery's formal tasting report documents a strikingly complex aroma that weaves robust vanilla, rich caramelized brown sugar, roasted peanuts, seasoned leather, fragrant oak timber, and candied orange peel. The palate is thick, oily, and wonderfully chewy, coating the tongue with an intriguing combination of cherry-heavy dried dark fruit, sweet butterscotch, baking cinnamon, and nutmeg spice, backed by a subtle, unique herbal punch on the back-end. It rounds out on an exceptionally long, persistent, and warming finish that leaves a memorable trail of spicy wood tannins, dark cocoa, and lingering sweet sugars.

For high-end whiskey archives and serious spirits collectors, this back-vintage bottle serves as a monumental closing chapter for the 2020 vintage line, making it an essential acquisition for completionists tracking historical flavor shifts. Arriving in the brand's classic charred-wooden display crate accompanied by a custom narrative card detailing Booker's gridiron days, this limited-edition release stands as a brilliant example of a barrel-proof bourbon that perfectly aligns historic storytelling with premium liquid complexity.

• Size: 750ml
• Proof: 127.3 Proof (63.65% ABV)
• Age: 6 Years, 7 Months, 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 (5 rackhouse environments)
• Bottling: Released December 2020; third and final batch of the 2020 collection
• Series: Booker's Bourbon 2020 Small Batch Collection
• Selection: Curated and approved by Seventh-Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe
• Tasting Notes: Nose: Robust vanilla, caramel, roasted peanuts, old leather, fragrant oak, and candied orange peel. Palate: Thick, oily, and chewy with dried dark cherries, sweet butterscotch, cinnamon, nutmeg spice, and a light herbal undertone. Finish: Very long, warm, and robust with lingering sweet sugars, dark cocoa, and rich oak char tannins.