First bottle up on my page for reviews as an intermediate bourbon connoisseur is the newest Booker’s Milkshake Batch. I Heard good things about the first batch of 2026, saw this at my local liquor store on sale and figured I’ve give it a try. Haven’t tried a Booker’s since the Master Distiller’s batch, so figured it was time to give it another go.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass

Proof: 124.4 proof

Age: 7 years, 6 months and 12 days

Price: $65 (normally $100)

Nose: Initially a lot of ethanol, after resting for a few minutes opened up to a sweetness unlike the Booker’s I remember. Lots of vanilla and sweet oak, a bit of red fruit and some caramel.         

Taste: To my dismay, none of the red fruit on the nose seems to transfer to the palate. On the plus side, this drinks very well below its proof. You could tell me this is 100 proof and I’d believe you. Initially a bit of spice and the typical Beam nuttiness on the palate, coating it very well. Notes of vanilla and toffee stick alongside a lot of oak, not anything too tannic however. A punch of pepper and some rye spice come after the initial sweetness and linger for a bit.

Finish: On the finish, I get somewhat of an espresso note along with the lingering oak and of course the Beam nuttiness. Much of the sweetness that originated on the palate seems to dissipate fairly quickly, however the finish seems to linger for a few minutes. 

Thoughts: I am by no means an expert on Beam products, but this seems to me like what a standard batch of Booker’s should be. It’s an approachable bourbon with typical notes that are well refined and tell a good story. While I know there’s lots of batches that are sought after, this is one I feel could go either way. It’s by no means anything to write home about, but it is definitely a well crafted bourbon. While the sweetness on the nose and palate are enjoyable, it seemed to flee pretty quickly. At a sale price of $65, I’m by no means mad I got it. This is a good introduction to higher proof bourbon, value wise I am unsure if I’d get it at MSRP.

Rating: 6.5/10 - t8ke scale

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Review #1: Booker’s 2026-02 Milkshake Batch