Booker's 2020-01E Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 700ml

Booker's Batch 2020-01E "Granny's Batch" is a spectacular, cask-strength 126.4 proof (63.2% ABV) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey released in early 2020 by the James B. Beam Distilling Co. based in Clermont, Kentucky. Serving as the highly coveted European and international export variant of the standard 2020-01 allocation, this unique 700ml glass vessel preserves the unadulterated essence of traditional distilling by delivering the liquid completely uncut and non-chill filtered straight out of the fire-charred white oak staves.

The deeply sentimental backstory behind this bottling shines a direct spotlight on the matriarch who bridged two monumental eras of American spirits. "Granny's Batch" pays an affectionate tribute to Margaret Beam Noe—the youngest daughter of Jim Beam himself and the mother of legendary Master Distiller Booker Noe. Known to family and friends simply as Granny, she held the roost together with quiet strength and patience, playing a vital role in keeping the family's production traditions alive across generations by personally securing a young Booker his very first job at the distillery facility.

To celebrate the refined elegance and quiet power of its beloved namesake, 7th-generation Master Distiller Fred Noe carefully curated a complex blend harvested across two distinct production dates. The selected barrels spent their maturation cycle sleeping across six different microclimate locations within four separate multi-story rackhouses. Fred Noe’s objective for this opening 2020 release was to craft a remarkably rich, front-forward flavor architecture where an initial wave of heavy barrel sweetness acts as a structural cushion, expertly taming the massive alcohol heat without dialing back the brand's classic barrel-proof intensity.

The distillery's formal tasting chronicle documents a highly attractive olfactory opening defined by charred oak timber, warm maple syrup, toasted walnuts, and a dusty touch of citrus zest. The heavy, full-bodied palate coats the mouth with a viscous, syrupy texture, driving bold explosions of rich vanilla cream, dark brown sugar, orange chocolate, and a pleasant, traditional peanut-shell nuttiness. It rounds out on an exceptionally long, persistent finish that leaves an authentic, warming "Kentucky Hug" packed with lingering black pepper spice, honeyed oak, and a soft fudge sweetness.

For high-end whiskey investors and serious international collectors, this rare 700ml export edition represents a premium, hard-to-find archive piece that records a crucial chapter in the brand's contemporary named-batch timeline. Instantly recognizable by its distinctive pink label text framing a narrative card honoring Granny’s bridge-playing and highball traditions, this limited-volume gem stands as a brilliant example of uncut bourbon that perfectly matches historical storytelling with structural liquid complexity.

• Size: 700ml (International Export Casing)
• Proof: 126.4 Proof (63.2% ABV)
• Age: 6 Years, 4 Months, 21 Days
• Origin: Clermont, Kentucky, USA
• Distillery: James B. Beam Distilling Co. (Clermont, KY)
• Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Uncut and Unfiltered)
• Cask/Cooperage: Level 4 fire-charred American white oak barrels
• Bottling: Released early 2020; highly limited international export allocation
• Series: Booker's Bourbon 2020 Small Batch Collection
• Selection: Curated and approved by Seventh-Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe
• Tasting Notes: Nose: Charred oak, warm maple syrup, toasted walnuts, dusty vanilla, and citrus zest. Palate: Full-bodied and syrupy, rich brown sugar, orange chocolate, baked spices, and traditional peanut notes. Finish: Very long, warm, and sweet with lingering black pepper, honeyed oak, and soft vanilla.