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Little Book Chapter 10 All the Wiser Bourbon Review

Can a $100+ bourbon be worth the fall hunt? Discover whether Little Book All the Wiser’s rich, festive pour lives up to its price.

OVERALL RATING

9
$160
  • Jeffrey Nitschke is a Portland-based attorney passionate about whiskey and cigars, with deep ties to the American whisky community and culture.
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Tasting Notes

About:

Fall is a busy season for whiskey fans, known affectionately as “bourbon hunt season” to those in the know, as it is the time many distilleries release their yearly limited releases. While many releases (I’m looking at you, Pappies and BTAC) are so hotly sought after that most will never even have an opportunity to buy one, James B. Bean Distilling Company’s yearly Little Book release is one of the few gems that dedicated hunters may have a shot at finding. Little Book found its origin in Freddie Noe, the son of Beam Family Master Distiller Fred Noe, who created the dram to honor his grandfather, Booker Noe. In fact, “Little Book” was the nickname bestowed on a young Freddy by Booker.

The 10th release of the series, “All the Wiser”, is a blend of 6 separate bourbons under the James B. Beam label, specifically a 14-year Basil Hayden, 11-year Knob Creek, 10-year booker’s, 9-year Knob Creek, 6-year Baker’s, and a 4-year Jim Beam finished in Sherry and Toasted Bourbon Casks, ending at 61.3% ABV. According to Freddie, his approach to “All the Wiser” differed from prior expressions in the series. While he initially focused on percentages in early releases, he now takes an artistic approach: “I don’t push it towards one specific outcome. I guide it, and I let it guide me. With every Chapter, I’ve gotten more at ease with the push and pull.”
Appearance:
Orange trickled with clover honey.
Nose:
Dried fruit of plums and currants, slight anise. Soft toasted cedar and tobacco leaf fill the center.
Palate:
A full mouthfeel is led by light butterscotch, quickly turning to thick leather and cacao. Rich eggnog with chai spice soften bitter oak.
Finish:
A light flush of Christmas spices appears before a final lingering dried peppercorn and bitter oak.
Comments:
With Little Book being one of the findable fall limited release, my main question was whether the dram is worth the cost in a crowded $100+ field. I answer that question with a resounding yes. If you’re a bourbon fan, this dram offers a full bodied, rich, and unique experience that is especially fitted to yuletide celebrations, and which stands out among other similarly priced products.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Jeffrey Nitschke

Jeffrey Nitschke is Portland area attorney whose career has dovetailed with a love of fine spirits and cigars. His hometown is rich with microdistilleries, which has afforded him the opportunity to learn the nuances of whiskey tasting and whiskey making. His writing and enthusiasm for the hobby has led to lasting friendships with other whiskey aficionados and connisures across the United States.

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