Booker's 2021-04 "Noe Stranger's Batch" second tasting (first pour). There's an excellent butter toffee caramel char on the nose and almost a slight fruitiness as well. The fruitiness is the first thing I discerned when I opened the bottle. Then, it gave way to the traditional bourbon notes. Cinnamon spice takes over after those first notes. If you let the glass sit again, you will notice that the caramel aroma returns. Back and forth, the scent moves to create an enjoyable bourbon aroma experience.
The palate of Booker's 2021-04 "Noe Stranger's Batch" is what I find interesting. Frankly, there is a sharpness to the heat, a little too aggressive for my palate and hotter than it 124.4 proof. Now, I let this bottle sit a few weeks after opening it the first time because it was a little too harsh. It has settled down now. Many more flavors are coming through on the palate even though the heat is present. The first thing that I get is the candy cinnamon spice. For me, this would be a great bourbon if it was a tad bit smoother. However, many people are a fan of this profile, so if you like that red hot candy cinnamon heat, then this is for you. Interestingly, as you sip on this candy cinnamon, it changes to more of a peppery heat.
The Booker's 2021-04 "Noe Stranger's Batch" finish is nice and warm even though it is a little too hot on the tongue. I was worried it would not go down smooth enough, but it does.