ABOUT BOOKER’S® “JIMMY’s BATCH”

The fourth release of the Booker’s® Bourbon 2024 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2024-04 “Jimmy’s Batch.” This batch is named in honor of Master Distiller Jimmy Russell, living legend for bourbon lovers everywhere, and one of my dad’s dearest peers, competitors, and most importantly friends. Jimmy was like a second father to me after dad passed away, and I’ve learned a hell of a lot from him over the years. There are many life lessons to thank him for, but here are a few that stand out to me.

Once at a bourbon festival, Jimmy came up to Dad and me and poured out three glasses of a whiskey he wanted us to taste. It was some real nice stuff, and when Dad asked what it was, Jimmy said it was something new he was working on, something special. I thought it was pretty cool to bring a new product to a competitor and ask what they think. It showed me the importance of trust and camaraderie, and just how much those old timers respected each other.

The other big thing Jimmy taught me was to treat everybody like I wanted to be treated. When we went to events at bars or liquor stores, he always stayed late to make sure everyone got their picture taken and their bottle signed. It’s easy to take for granted that we get to do what we do because of the people that stand in line for our whiskey, but Jimmy never did.

Just like Dad, there are few things Jimmy loves more than a damn good bottle of bourbon. So, cheers to him and the mentorship he’s given me through thick and thin all these years. I hope you get to share a glass with company as good and true as Jimmy.

— FRED NOE, BEAM FAMILY 7TH GENERATION MASTER DISTILLER

MASTER DISTILLER’S NOTES

The fourth and final batch of Booker’s Bourbon for 2024 is a tribute to a cherished friend of the Noe family, Jimmy Russel. A close friend to my dad and a second father figure to me since my dad’s passing in 2004. The breakdown of this batch is as follows:

• 12% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse Z
• 20% came from the 5th floor of 7-story warehouse 1
• 46% came from the 3rd floor of 7-story warehouse 3
• 22% came from the 4th floor of 7-story warehouse Q

This batch was made up of 3 production dates stored in 4 different warehouses. It stands at 125.8 proof and the age is 7 years, 9 months, and 19 days. It boasts a rich amber color shaped by the charred white oak barrels it aged in until the barrels were dumped. I first tasted this batch at my kitchen table, and its aroma filled the whole room. That first sip is sweet and smooth, and the way the vanilla notes mixes with the brown spice notes is just right- inviting you in for another taste. The finish is very pleasant and relaxing in taste.

I am really proud to put this batch together for Jimmy, and I know my dad would have loved seeing a batch of his namesake bourbon dedicated to his great friend.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Booker’s “Jimmy’s Batch” is now available nationwide in limited quantities with a suggested retail price of $99.99 for a 750 mL bottle. 

PROOF 125.8

AGE 7 yrs., 8 months and 19 days

IN FIELD DATE 11/1/24

NOSE Aromas of vanilla, brown spices

TASTE Sweet and smooth, and unmistakably Booker’s® Bourbon

FINISH Pleasant and relaxing

SIPPING SUGGESTIONS Sip neat or with water to open up the flavorsSCC#10080686011405 / UPC#080686011408

*Booker’s® Bourbon is quality screened to remove sizeable pieces of charred barrel wood Shippers for each Booker’s Batch are coded with the name and batch # for each release

2024 has been My Year of the Book, so a sincere and humble THANK YOU to all the whisky makers, promoters, whisky clubs and pubs, festivals, event sponsors and others who have helped make it a success. Canadian Whisky Third Edition is now in bookstores and at online booksellers, or order below for Christmas delivery.

Canadian Whisky: The Essential Portable Expert, Third Edition is now in stores and at all online booksellers.

But what makes it a new edition?

There are no real rules, but my publisher wanted at least 35% all-new material. When I told him there were way more changes and new information than that, he responded “Go wild,” and I did.

The publisher went wild too, illustrating this new edition with glorious full colour photos, many of them rarely seen historic images. And it’s a hard cover book too this time, so pleasing to hold and ideal for gift-giving.

Nearly two dozen significant historical distilleries are profiled for the first time ever. Some of these were huge enterprises, as large as Seagram’s or Gooderham and Worts, but until now, lost to time.

I updated or re-wrote every chapter, some of them extensively, and included several new ones including one about a little-known Canadian whisky family dynasty, now in its fifth generation.

All of Canada’s major distilleries have new, updated profiles, in some cases entirely changed to reflect new research, new sources, new practices, and new owners doing new things in new ways.

The smaller distilleries, Canada’s craft producers, get a lot more attention this time, reflecting the growth and maturity of a new distilling movement, driven by authenticity. It’s a movement that is giving consumers and major producers good reason to take notice.

Over 120 tasting notes, each illustrated with a colour photo of the bottle tell another story of Canadian whisky, this one through historical drams and the latest releases.

And the publisher created new maps locating legacy, historical and craft distilleries, to give readers an overview at a glance of the geography of distilling in Canada.

All in all, it’s a brand new book, and that’s not just me speaking, but the opinion of whisky geeks from coast to coast who have collected and read the earlier editions. It’s new, it’s now, and it would be most welcome under any whisky lover’s Christmas tree.

CHAPTERS INDIGO

AMAZON

SHOP LOCAL

WHISKY SPONGE ED.58B BEN NEVIS – 27 YEAR OLD

After a very long gap, Whisky Sponge Edition No.58b is finally here. It’s rather fitting that this will be the very last Sponge bottling we’ll release. Forever. (Probably).

This is the second half of the same butt of Ben Nevis 1996 we bottled as Edition No. 58a, only this one has been finished in a 2nd fill sherry butt for just over two years. We bottled it with even slighter reduction this time, at 55%. It tastes like Optimus Prime after an intense workout while wearing a sheep wool cardigan in a cosmic potting shed.

Whisky Sponge Edition No.58b is the long in development follow up to Edition No.58a. It’s the same whisky, a refill butt of 1996 Ben Nevis, only we finished the second half for just over two years in a 2nd fill sherry butt.

We then bottled it with a couple of degrees reduction at 55%. This is big, rich, oily, waxy and mechanical Ben Nevis, powerful, West Highland, distillate driven malt whisky, with a touch of sherry earthiness.

£295.00 incVAT

SHOP NOW

We’re very pleased to present the 2025 Victoria Whisky Festival. The Victoria Whisky Festival will run through Thursday the 16^th, Friday the 17^th, Saturday the 18^th and Sunday the 19^th of January 2025 at the 5-star Hotel Grand Pacific located on Victoria’s beautiful Inner Harbour. To order tickets please contact Frank Hudson at info@victoriawhiskyfestival.com

It’s a big moment for Unfiltered which celebrates its 100th issue with some equally exciting news: PRINT IS COMING BACK in 2025. In the latest digital issue we explore our latest Heresy release, Spruce on the loose and head to the Isle of Harris for a Hebridean adventure. As ever, there’s a wealth of whisky storytelling to explore both in Unfiltered and in our monthly podcast.

READ UNFILTERED

WATCH THE PODCAST

CHRISTMAS DELIVERY UPDATE

We’re now getting closer to our Christmas delivery cut-off dates. Please remember that it’s a very busy time of year. While we love getting your whisky to you as speedily as we can, unexpected bad weather and busy couriers can result in delays to orders. We would encourage you to place your orders as soon as possible. Order by Wednesday, 18 December to avoid disappointment!

SHOP ALL WHISKY

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

ralfy review 1057 Extras – Why do we believe that ‘older’ is better ?

SAZERAC COMPANY NAMED AMERICAN WHISKEY PRODUCER OF THE YEAR AT 2024 INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS CHALLENGE

In addition to the top honor, Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon was awarded the prestigious “Trophy” award, the highest medal awarded within the tasting category

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Sazerac Company, one of the world’s largest distilled spirits companies, has been named the American Whiskey Producer of the Year at the 2024 International Spirits Challenge (ISC) for the fifth consecutive year. Now in its 29th year, the ISC is a premier competition founded on a rigorous and independent judging process. The competition, which receives thousands of entries from more than 70 countries worldwide, truly promotes outstanding quality spirits from across the globe.

Determined by a weighted points system, the American Whiskey Producer of the Year Award is an esteemed recognition honoring the best performing spirits producers in a single category. Winning a total of 46 medals across all brands, Sazerac Company won 32 medals in the American Whiskey category.

“We are humbled to receive the American Whiskey Producer of the Year award for the fifth consecutive year,” said Harlen Wheatley, Sazerac Master Distiller. “This award is more than just an honor- it’s a testament to our team’s relentless dedication, craftsmanship, and passion for making quality spirits. As we celebrate this achievement, we are reminded that consistency and innovation go hand in hand with creating award-winning whiskey.”

At the top of the category was Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon, which was awarded a prestigious “trophy” award, the highest medal awarded within the tasting category. Other whiskeys in Sazerac’s portfolio that took home top medals in the competition include:

• Gold
  • 1792 Aged 12 years
  • 1792 Bottled in Bond
  • 1792 Full Proof
  • 1792 Single Barrel
  • 1792 Small Batch
  • Benchmark Single Barrel
  • Benchmark Small Batch
  • E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
  • Eagle Rare 10-year-old
  • Eagle Rare 17-year-old
  • Sazerac 18
  • Sazerac Rye
  • Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • W. L. Weller 12-year-old
  • W. L. Weller Antique 107
  • W. L. Weller C.Y.P.B.
  • W. L. Weller Full Proof
  • W. L. Weller Single Barrel
  • W. L. Weller Special Reserve

Additional spirits across the total Sazerac portfolio that received top honors include:

• Gold
  • Paddy Irish Whiskey

All spirits entered into the ISC are judged over a rigorous 23-day process of blind tastings by more than 75 respected and experienced industry professionals. Each judge assesses the products’ aroma, appearance, taste and finish, which is combined to determine which medal can be awarded.

Results from the 2024 International Spirits Challenge can be found here.

About Sazerac:

With over 400 years of history, Sazerac is one of the world’s largest distilled spirits companies. Now in the fourth generation of the current family ownership, Sazerac strives each day to bring the finest spirits to consumers and communities around the world.

Over 500 of the world’s most extraordinary brands are part of the Sazerac portfolio, including Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Eagle Rare, Weller, The Last Drop Distillers, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Southern Comfort, Wheatley Vodka, Meyers’s Rum, White X Cognac, Sazerac de Forge Cognac, Paddy’s Irish Whiskey, and many more.

Sazerac is also the steward of many fine distilleries internationally, including Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky, United States; Domaine Sazerac de Segonzac in Cognac, France; Paul John Distillery in Goa, India; and Lough Gill Distillery in County Sligo, Ireland. Additional impressive locations can be found in New Orleans, Montréal, London, Cork and Sydney, to name a few.

To learn more visit www.sazerac.com.

AUCTION ENDING SOON!

Like this year, our auction is drawing to a close, finishing on Sunday 15^th December from 8pm GMT. Don’t miss out on your last chance to bid on some cracking drams, including this stunning Port Ellen 1982 from bottling supremos Gordon & MacPhail, part of their iconic Connoisseurs Choice range.

Or how about this little beauty? Distilled in 1975 at the now closed Inverness distillery Glen Albyn, then bottled around 2001/2002 at natural Cask strength. Part of the aptly named Rare Malts range.

Released to mark the 25th anniversary of the Roseisle Maltings which began work in 1981. This particular expression was distilled using the first barley malted at the facility. Distilled at the Royal Lochnagar Distillery, aged 25 years then bottled at Cask strength. This is indeed a rare expression from the distinguished Highland distillery.

We love something different, like this private bottling for Ballindalloch Castle, the owners of Ballindalloch Distillery. A mysterious expression (rumoured to be from the neighbouring Glenfarclas Distillery), which was distilled in 1982 and bottled at Cask strength in 1999 in preparation for their Millennium party which was hosted by the Laird for locals to enjoy.

There really is something for everyone in this month’s auction and remember folks, if you want to place a cheeky late bid, you’ve got to be in it to win it! There’s still time to register at clickwhiskyauctions.com. Auction ends from 8PM GMT on Sunday 15^th December.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported us throughout our second year at Click Whisky Auctions, including Whisky Intelligence who have been nothing short of amazing! Have a wonderful holiday season and all the best for 2025 – Sláinte!

In the embrace of the longest night, we find the promise of returning light.

As the shortest day of the year approaches, so does a moment of reflection and celebration. We are delighted to unveil the latest addition to our solstice series: Winter Solstice 2024. 

Inspired by the depths of Winter, this exclusive single cask release has been drawn from a Glengoyne 2008 European Oak Sherry Hogshead. With a bottling strength of 59.9% ABV and a yield of only 285 bottles, this special release is available exclusively to Glengoyne Family Members at sunset on:

 16^th December, 15:44

(Five days prior to Solstice – but in time to arrive before Christmas!)

The tasting notes include a harmony of winter flavours:

Nose – Luxurious vanilla, treacle sponge pudding, chewy toffee, dark chocolate, cinnamon dusting, freshly toasted oak, thyme, dried orange and cherries, stewed peach

Palate – A medley of bright berries and dried fruits, sweet tropical notes, chopped almonds, homemade Christmas cake well-fed with Oloroso sherry, pleasant tannicity, hint of clove and roast coffee

Finish – Long, Oloroso sherry, trail mix, mouthwatering oak, dark chocolate ganache

The gift of The Macallan is the perfect way to show friends and loved ones how much you care this festive season. As the holidays fast approach, please note the final date to place orders for delivery in time for Christmas is 18th December.

We are pleased to offer complimentary shipping on all single malts and accessories.

 EXPLORE THE GIFT GUIDE