{"product_id":"bookers-bourbon-2026-01-jerrys-batch-750ml","title":"Booker's Bourbon 2026-01 Jerry's Batch 750ML","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBooker's Bourbon 2026-01 Big Easy Batch 750ML\u003c\/strong\u003e is an uncut, unfiltered barrel-proof Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 64.55% ABV (129.1 proof). \u003cem\u003eNote: The 2026-01 release is officially named \"Big Easy Batch\"—\"Jerry's Batch\" was the 2025-03 release.\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Facts:\u003c\/strong\u003e ABV: 64.55% (129.1 proof)  |  Origin: Clermont, Kentucky, USA  |  Style: Barrel Proof, Uncut \u0026amp; Unfiltered  |  Distillery: James B. Beam Distilling Co.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eProduction \u0026amp; Heritage\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBooker'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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaste:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eHow to Drink Big Easy Batch\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 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 \u003cstrong\u003eOld Fashioned\u003c\/strong\u003e, the batch's dark fruit intensity and baking-spice backbone stand up to bitters and sugar without fading. A \u003cstrong\u003eBoulevardier\u003c\/strong\u003e pairs its chocolate-cherry richness with sweet vermouth and Campari for a full-bodied, bitter-sweet balance. A \u003cstrong\u003eKentucky Mule\u003c\/strong\u003e lets the bold rye spice and dried fruit character cut cleanly through ginger beer and lime.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eBest For\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGifting a bourbon collector who tracks Booker's annual batch releases\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuilding a barrel-proof bourbon side-by-side tasting lineup\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAfter-dinner sipping alongside rich chocolate desserts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMarking a milestone occasion with a limited annual release\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does Big Easy Batch taste like?\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does Big Easy Batch compare to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof?\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Big Easy Batch good for sipping neat?\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere is Big Easy Batch made?\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat foods pair well with Big Easy Batch?\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat sizes does Big Easy Batch come in?\u003c\/strong\u003e Booker's Bourbon 2026-01 Big Easy Batch is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs Big Easy Batch worth the price?\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWhy Big Easy Batch?\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBig 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Booker's","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44836566728873,"sku":"2701","price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0680\/1024\/6313\/files\/booker-s-booker-s-bourbon-2026-01-jerry-s-batch-750ml-bottle.webp?v=1778787942","url":"https:\/\/theliquorbarn.com\/products\/bookers-bourbon-2026-01-jerrys-batch-750ml","provider":"The Liquor Barn","version":"1.0","type":"link"}