Booker's 30th Anniversary Bourbon

30 years of Booker Noe's vision. A blend of unfiltered 16-year and 9-year Kentucky straight bourbon, released to mark three decades since the first batch.

Booker Noe — grandson of Jim Beam and Master Distiller at Jim Beam for decades — released the first batch of Booker's Bourbon in 1988 as his personal answer to what the perfect whiskey should be: straight from the barrel, uncut and unfiltered, at whatever proof it naturally reached. The 30th Anniversary bottling marks that founding moment with a release that honors both the approach and the man.

The 30th Anniversary blends two components: barrels that have aged 16 years and barrels that have aged 9 years, both unfiltered. The 16-year component brings depth, dried fruit, and concentrated oak; the 9-year brings freshness, grain character, and a structural brightness that prevents the older bourbon from becoming too wood-dominant. The result is a presentation-worthy bottling in a wooden gift box that captures what Booker built over three decades.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deep, rich amber with exceptional viscosity from the unfiltered bottling.
• Aroma: Vanilla, caramel, toasted oak, and a warm dark fruit character from the 16-year component.
• Palate: Sweet and spicy — dark chocolate, dried fruit, vanilla, and baking spice from the older barrels, brightened by the grain character of the 9-year component.
• Finish: Long, warm, and satisfying — a touch of smokiness fading into vanilla and oak.

Specs

• Distillery: James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Unfiltered
• Components: 16-year and 9-year unfiltered bourbon
• Size: 750ml
• Presentation: Wooden gift box
• Release: 30th Anniversary Limited Edition

Explore the full Booker's collection or browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who was Booker Noe? Fred Booker Noe II — known as Booker — was the grandson of Jim Beam and Master Distiller at James B. Beam from 1965 to 1992. He created Booker's Bourbon in 1988 as the first commercially available barrel-proof, unfiltered bourbon. He is considered one of the founding figures of the modern premium bourbon movement. He passed away in 2004.
• What does unfiltered mean for bourbon? Most commercial bourbons undergo chill filtration to remove fatty acids and esters that can cause cloudiness at cold temperatures. Booker Noe specifically rejected this process, believing those compounds contribute to mouthfeel and flavor. Unfiltered Booker's is richer, more viscous, and more flavorful than filtered alternatives at the same proof.
• How does the 30th Anniversary compare to standard Booker's? Standard Booker's is an ongoing annual release of small-batch unfiltered bourbon at varying proof. The 30th Anniversary is a specific commemorative blend of 16-year and 9-year components — older and more complex than a standard batch — presented in a wooden gift box. It is a limited release that will not be repeated.
• Is the wooden gift box included? Yes — the 30th Anniversary comes in a beautifully crafted wooden box that reflects its commemorative status. It is ready to gift without additional packaging.