Booker's Limited Edition 13 Year Old Rye 'Big Time Batch'
Booker's Limited Edition 13 Year Old Rye 'Big Time Batch' is a Kentucky straight rye whiskey aged 13 years, 1 month, and 12 days and bottled uncut and unfiltered at a barrel-proof 136.2 proof (68.1% ABV), 750mL. Released in June 2016, it remains the first and only rye ever bottled under the Booker's name — a true collector's whiskey available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 68.1% (136.2 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 13 years, 1 month, 12 days
- Origin: James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, Kentucky
- Production: Kentucky straight rye whiskey, uncut and unfiltered; one-time limited edition selected by seventh-generation Master Distiller Fred Noe
The One and Only Booker's Rye
Booker Noe bottled uncut, unfiltered bourbon straight from the barrel as holiday gifts for friends long before it went on sale in 1988 — and the Booker's line has been bottled at its natural barrel proof ever since. The 2016 "Big Time Batch" broke new ground: the rye was barreled in 2003, among the last whiskey Booker Noe himself laid down before he passed in 2004. His son Fred Noe selected the barrels from one of his father's favorite rackhouses and bottled them uncut and unfiltered, just as Booker would have wanted. Instantly recognizable by its green wax top and green-and-gold label in Fred Noe's handwriting, presented in a stained-hardwood chest, it earned American Whiskey of the Year from Whisky Advocate in 2016. For rye whiskey collectors, it is the crown jewel of the Booker's lineage.
Tasting Notes
A massive, all-encompassing pour: the nose shows rich caramel, campfire wood smoke, maple, sweet toffee, and clementine orange zest. The palate is bold — molasses, crème brûlée, cloves, nutmeg, peppercorn, and multigrain bread with a creamy, mouth-coating weight. The finish is monumentally long, complex, and spicy, lingering with vanilla, chocolate, licorice, and heavy oak char. Among barrel-proof American whiskeys, few deliver this kind of depth.
How to Enjoy
This is a high-proof whiskey built for savoring: pour it neat and add water a few drops at a time to open up the spice, vanilla, and chocolate. It also makes an unforgettable barrel-proof rye Old Fashioned or Manhattan for the bold. Pair with a fine cigar or dark chocolate after dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What proof is Booker's Rye Big Time Batch?
It is bottled at 136.2 proof (68.1% ABV), uncut and unfiltered — the natural barrel proof of the batch.
How old is Booker's Big Time Batch rye?
13 years, 1 month, and 12 days — an exceptionally long age for a rye whiskey, barreled in 2003 and bottled in June 2016.
Is Booker's Rye a bourbon?
No — it is a Kentucky straight rye whiskey, the first and only rye released under the Booker's name. It follows the Booker's tradition of being bottled uncut and unfiltered at barrel proof.
Is Booker's Big Time Batch still in production?
No. It was a one-time limited edition released in June 2016 with a $299 MSRP, and remaining bottles are collector's items.
A once-in-a-generation rye for the serious collector — order Booker's Limited Edition 13 Year Old Rye 'Big Time Batch' online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
