The James B. Beam Distilling Co. has announced its latest limited release, marking the first tequila barrel-finished bourbon in the company’s entire portfolio.
Booker’s The Reserves 2025 represents a cross-border collaboration between Kentucky bourbon and Mexican tequila traditions. The release follows last year’s launch of The Reserves series, created by 8th Generation Master Distiller Freddie Noe to honor his grandfather, Booker Noe.
The Journey Behind Booker’s The Reserves 2025
The 2025 batch features barrels with an unusual history. Originally used to age Booker’s 30th Anniversary release, the barrels were shipped to Jalisco, Mexico, where the Camarena family filled them with El Tesoro’s 85th Anniversary tequila. After aging the tequila, the agave-seasoned barrels returned to Clermont, Kentucky, where Freddie Noe used them to finish a hand-selected batch of Booker’s bourbon.
The bourbon was aged for eight years, ten months, and eleven days, and bottled at 123.3 proof. According to official tasting notes, the whiskey presents caramel, vanilla, and a hint of agave on the nose. The palate offers rich caramel, charred oak, and baking spice, while the finish features agave and black pepper notes.
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“[Booker’s] creativity showed me how much more is possible with the whiskey we all know and love. I’m proud to carry his spirit forward and hope each release gives you a new appreciation for flavor, just as Booker intended,” said Freddie Noe in the Master Distiller’s notes accompanying the release.
Availability and Legacy of Booker’s The Reserves 2025
The Reserves series launched in 2024 as the first innovation from Booker’s Bourbon since the 30th Anniversary release. The annual limited-release series aims to commemorate Booker Noe’s contributions to the bourbon industry through experimental finishing techniques.
Like all Booker’s releases, The Reserves 2025 is bottled uncut and unfiltered. The bourbon carries a suggested retail price of $129.99 and is currently available in limited quantities. Visit Booker’s website for more information.
The Reserves series reflects Booker Noe’s experimental approach to bourbon making. According to Freddie Noe’s distiller’s notes, his grandfather “was never not exploring how to make even better bourbon” and “always had an experiment on the go.”
This latest release continues that tradition of innovation while maintaining the core characteristics that define Booker’s bourbon.
