Booker's Bourbon 2026-01 Big Easy Batch 750ML is an uncut, unfiltered barrel-proof Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 64.55% ABV (129.1 proof). Note: The 2026-01 release is officially named "Big Easy Batch"—"Jerry's Batch" was the 2025-03 release. This first batch of the 2026 Booker's calendar earned an A- rating from Drinkhacker, reflecting a rich, layered profile built from barrels pulled across multiple warehouse floors and production dates.

Quick Facts: ABV: 64.55% (129.1 proof)  |  Origin: Clermont, Kentucky, USA  |  Style: Barrel Proof, Uncut & Unfiltered  |  Distillery: James B. Beam Distilling Co.

Production & Heritage

Booker's Bourbon is named after Booker Noe, the sixth-generation master distiller at Jim Beam who pioneered the modern small-batch bourbon movement in the late 1980s. Each numbered batch in the annual lineup carries a unique name chosen by the Noe family. Big Easy Batch is produced from Beam's signature mashbill of 77% corn, 13% rye, and 10% malted barley, distilled through the distillery's traditional column-and-doubler still system, and aged in new charred American oak barrels. This particular release blends barrels stored on floors 3 through 6 across multiple warehouse locations, drawn from five different production dates—then bottled at full barrel strength without any cutting or chill filtration.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Cloves and searing black pepper arrive first, followed by charred wood and brighter red pepper notes. Beneath the spice, vanilla and butterscotch provide a warm, inviting base.

Taste: Raisin dominates the entry, rolling into chocolate-covered cherry and warm hazelnut at mid-palate. A sweet-tart plum juiciness emerges alongside maple and dark chocolate, while persistent black pepper adds structural spine. Cola syrup and cherry cough-drop sweetness thread through the deeper layers.

Finish: Extended and warming, with tannic oak and dry leather giving way to toasted cinnamon and rye spice, plus a flash of faint grapefruit. A lingering sweetness recalls peanut butter cup and vanilla fudge, anchored by earthy baking spices that keep the close dry and balanced.

How to Drink Big Easy Batch

At 129.1 proof, a few drops of water unlock the sweeter raisin and cherry notes while softening the initial heat; neat or over a single large ice cube both reward patient sipping. In an Old Fashioned, the batch's dark fruit intensity and baking-spice backbone stand up to bitters and sugar without fading. A Boulevardier pairs its chocolate-cherry richness with sweet vermouth and Campari for a full-bodied, bitter-sweet balance. A Kentucky Mule lets the bold rye spice and dried fruit character cut cleanly through ginger beer and lime.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon collector who tracks Booker's annual batch releases
• Building a barrel-proof bourbon side-by-side tasting lineup
• After-dinner sipping alongside rich chocolate desserts
• Marking a milestone occasion with a limited annual release

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Big Easy Batch taste like? Big Easy Batch leads with rich raisin and chocolate-covered cherry, layered with dark chocolate, hazelnut, and black pepper, finishing with toasted cinnamon and a lingering vanilla-fudge sweetness.

How does Big Easy Batch compare to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof? Both are uncut, unfiltered barrel-proof Kentucky straight bourbons, but Big Easy Batch uses Beam's higher-rye mashbill (77% corn, 13% rye, 10% malted barley) compared to Heaven Hill's lower-rye recipe. This gives Big Easy Batch a spicier, more pepper-forward character, while Elijah Craig Barrel Proof generally leans toward richer caramel and oak.

Is Big Easy Batch good for sipping neat? Barrel-proof bourbons like Big Easy Batch are built for neat sipping, though a few drops of water can help reveal subtler fruit and vanilla notes beneath the high proof.

Where is Big Easy Batch made? Big Easy Batch is distilled and bottled at the James B. Beam Distilling Company in Clermont, Kentucky, located in the heart of bourbon country south of Louisville.

What foods pair well with Big Easy Batch? Dark chocolate truffles complement its cocoa and dried-fruit notes. Smoked brisket matches the charred oak and pepper intensity. Pecan pie mirrors its nutty sweetness. Sharp aged cheddar provides a savory contrast to the bourbon's richness. Bread pudding with caramel sauce echoes the vanilla and maple tones.

What sizes does Big Easy Batch come in? Booker's Bourbon 2026-01 Big Easy Batch is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Big Easy Batch worth the price? Booker's positions as a premium barrel-proof bourbon within the Jim Beam small-batch portfolio, and the 2026-01 release's A- rating from Drinkhacker and complex multi-floor, multi-date blending support its standing among the stronger values in widely available barrel-proof expressions.

Why Big Easy Batch?

Big Easy Batch earned an A- from Drinkhacker, establishing it as a confident opening salvo for the 2026 Booker's lineup. Its construction—barrels drawn from floors 3 through 6 across five separate production dates—creates a layered complexity that single-barrel releases rarely match. Bottled uncut and unfiltered at 129.1 proof, it delivers the full force of Beam's high-rye mashbill without dilution or filtration compromise. For drinkers who value barrel-strength transparency and batch-to-batch variation, Big Easy Batch demonstrates exactly why Booker Noe's original small-batch philosophy still resonates nearly four decades later.