One of the nice things about graduate school was making friends with people who'd eventually have money in their 20s. I was not one of those people, but I occasionally got to drink like it.
That's how Booker's fell into my orbit. It was a bourbon bandied about in the same rarified air of Pappy Van Winkle; tasty, a bit overhyped and ultimately divisive on whether it was worth the cost. While the quality of each pour was rarely in doubt, the value made it a difficult proposition when bourbon nerds drove up the price in a world where you can buy, say, Four Roses at $20 per fifth.
Still, Booker's is a bourbon that will catch my attention when mentioned. So when I had the chance to try this year's version of The Reserves -- an annual release that takes the aged spirit and tweaks it just a bit -- I jumped at it. The 2025 Reserves is finished in the same Booker's barrels that are used to age El Tesoro’s 85th Anniversary tequila, shipped back north to complete nearly nine years of aging. I've never had a bourbon that's been finished in tequila barrels, and apparently this is the first time across the Jim Beam portfolio that's been done.
That's interesting. Is it any good? And, just as importantly, is it worth the $130 price tag?
Booker's The Reserves 2025: A
Despite the tequila barrel influence, the smell off the top is pure bourbon. Inviting, malty, warm and just a little sugary. That sweetness comes through in the form of baking spices; cinnamon, a little nutmeg and a slightly bready feel to what already feels like an absolutely lovely dram.
The first sip is sweet on your tongue, with a little raisin/bread pudding vibe to open things up. Then, the mash kicks in. You get a rewarding spice that highlights the 123 proof spirit inside. You get a complex experience, going from gentle dessert flavors to big, bold malt to an easy landing where that sugar and spice intertwine and give you something to linger on.
Despite a procession of rich flavors, the tequila is subtle. It mainly comes with that sweet finish, where the agave helps soften some of that spice and adds a final layer to an already intense sip. It blends with some of that rye heat to produce a dry, but not intimidating, finish that's very easy to come back to.
While that tequila finish could have been a gimmick, it's a welcome addition here. This was already an expertly made tequila; now it's got a little more color to set it apart.
Either way it works, delivering a smooth, soft sipper that brings some spice at barrel proof but is ultimately rewarding and unique. $130 is a lot to pay for a bottle of bourbon. If you can find The Reserves 2025 and you've got the cash, get it done. That sweet dry finish sings -- especially with a little bit of ice involved.
Would I drink it instead of a Hamm's?
This is a pass/fail mechanism where I compare whatever I'm drinking to my baseline cheap beer. That's the standby from the land of sky-blue waters, Hamm's. So the question to answer is: on a typical day, would I drink Booker's The Reserves 2025 over a cold can of Hamm's?
Sorry, Hamm's. This one's a blowout.
This is part of FTW's Beverage of the Week series. Here, we mostly chronicle and review beers, but happily expand that scope to any beverage that pairs well with sports. Yes, even cookie dough whiskey .
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Booker's The Reserves 2025: Expensive? Oh yeah. Worth it? Yep
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