I headed over to the bar to take a look. More of a scotch selection than anything else. Finally I spotted something called Old Charter. That sounded like a bourbon since a good rule of thumb in naming bourbons is to choose any word and add “old” in front. On delivery everyone asked what I had chosen. I said, “something I never heard of called ‘Old Charter.’” That resulted in several of these baby boomers nearly spitting Yellow Tail merlot out their nose. Apparently Old Charter is a classic bourbon they had been drinking all their life, and I was an idiot for not knowing anything about it.

Here is what I found out. These people knew what they were talking about. Literally this is a classically styled bourbon. I found it to be very fruity with significant amounts of caramel and charring. The alcohol is a manageable 90 proof that for me did not require anything but ice to easily enjoy.

Overall I say this is a terrific bourbon. A poor man’s Woodford in some ways. Pick it up for less than $12 a bottle, but make sure you never suggest to someone over 50 years old that you never heard of it. buy lukol

I’m not going to lie that smells like pure gasoline.

Those are the words that go through your head when you pull the wax off the top of a bottle of Booker’s. I guess I should have known to expect a stout bourbon when the guy working the cash register at the bottle store said I better buy some bottled water to go with it. 
Some background info is in order. I bought the Booker’s because I am from a town called Booker. Hopefully they are marketing this stuff to more than just people from my hometown who think the novelty is just too good to pass up, even at $55 a bottle.

Packaging:

As you can see in the picture, it is rather plain looking. Apparently they used some sophisticated computers to make the label look hand written as though you might believe that these bottles are in such limited supply that someone hand wrote everything out. I might have been fooled, but I don’t think anyone could write on the curve of a bottle that good. I must admit, I like the wood box it comes in. Some how it seems like if you spend over $50 on a bottle of bourbon they should include a box. Since I was giving this to my buddy as a graduation present, it made it easier to wrap.

Taste:

The taste is very bold. So much so it almost burns your lips. I can’t imagine trying to drink this without water. I have never spoken to anyone who has either. Or at least that enjoyed it that way. Its over 120 proof, and you feel every bit of it. Apparently this is “uncut” and not in a Jewish way, but rather they stuck a spout in the barrel, poured it in to the bottle, and stuck a wax top on it. 
I love this. Hands down my favorite bourbon. Several of us here at the the Review, consider Booker’s to be the measure for all other bourbons. Since it is such a pure form of bourbon it makes for a good measuring stick. Most of the taste is at a particular extreme. Still, someone with the right amount of water it manages to be both oaky and sweet at the same time. In my mind, this is the perfect bourbon.

I believe that was a major part of the problem with my Knob and water yesterday evening.

 Even with the wrong mixtures, Knob is still a very fine whiskey and I would recommend it to anyone looking to expand there whiskey experiences beyond the Jim, Jack and SoCo standards. It is a step up in quality so be prepared to take a step up in price both in the bar and at the store. The extra coin is well worth it in my opinion.

 On this particular evening I was enjoying a Knob and water when the 
atmosphere was suddenly picked up by a couple of older gentlemen who came driving up to the bar; one was driving a completely refurbished 1962 Corvette and the other a restored 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk with a rebuilt engine that would make the old Chevy 454 cry like a baby. If the Knob and water wasn’t enough, the addition of two classic automobiles to the scene at the bar was enough to make the evening a success in my book. Its not everyday that you get to enjoy a fine whiskey while checking out two classic cars. 
Turns out the two older gentlemen were also quite the comedians and kept the bar going for quite some time with their material. I feel obligated to share one of the jokes with you at this time.

Older Gentleman #1: Have you ever heard of a carnival woman?

Older Gentleman #2: No, what is that. *As he wipes off his face* The kind of woman who sits on your face so you can guess her weight.

While the Knob and water was not the best I had ever had, the rest of the 
evening made up for it and all is well that goes down as smooth. It if is whiskey too, all the better. I give Knob Creek a 90 on a 100 point scale. It is a must have in my regular rotation.

FYI: 100 Proof

Coincidence brought me face to face with this very small batch bourbon. Soon after moving to Houston, I stumbled upon a bottle of bourbon named after the the city’s namesake. The distiller also bottles Jefferson’s Reserve and carries a handwritten label. Good start, and an even better finish. Although 90 proof, the initial nose is not overpowering. A dash of water brings out an excellent palate – sweet, but not sugary or fruity – the sweetness only found when aged by an expert. The finish only accents those flavors and leaves you wanting more. Being hand crafted, I highly doubt you will come across a bottle belonging to the same batch. However, I would bet the attention each bottle receives will reward you as well as it did me. I intend to find out soon for myself. Treat yourself and I’m sure you’ll agree, Sam Houston should always be stocked in your private collection. Price: $25 Rating: clariti91

Like I said its a woman’s whiskey. I like women and whiskey all the same but never at the same time, only one after the other.

Preferably the whiskey then the woman because then you would be getting lucky at the end of the night, but I’m sure we’ve all been there where a fifth of whiskey was needed to remove any memory of the woman that came before the bottle or had a figure that looked like the bottle.

Rating: I give Phillips Union whiskey a 40 on a scale of 100. Its in that category of “Only drink it if its free or if it will get 
you laid, anytime else is just not worth it.”

Age: 8 years
Proof: 80
Price: gift, ?
Rating: Excellent (i.e. 90)

Price: $20

Rating: 85