If there’s a word that follows Booker’s Bourbon around like a shadow, it’s “story.” Every batch isn’t just a liquid; it’s a letter from Kentucky, written in oak and time. The newest chapter arrives this month: Booker’s “By The Pond” Batch — the second release of 2025, and maybe the most personal yet.
This batch takes its name from a quiet piece of earth behind the Noe family home — the pond where legendary distiller Booker Noe raised catfish and bluegill so he could fry up supper whenever he felt like it. According to his son, Fred Noe (now the seventh-generation master distiller), that pond was more than a water hole; it was a place of reflection, laughter, and patience.
Fred remembers how it wasn’t always smooth sailing — the pond leaked, the maple tree dropped its leaves like a blanket each fall, and fish got tangled in nets meant to protect them. But over time, that patch of water grew into something deeper, a mirror for a man who spent his life shaping bourbon.
This “By The Pond” Batch captures that same spirit of improvisation and perseverance. It was selected during a record-wet spring in Kentucky, with rainfall that soaked the state’s red clay and turned horse pastures into shimmering mirrors — the kind that might remind Fred of Derby season thoroughbreds.
On the nose, it’s warm and inviting, with big vanilla and oak notes that feel as welcoming as a porch swing at dusk. The taste starts sweet, then rolls into a rich, balanced finish that Fred says would have had his father going back for a second sip by the pond.
The technical breakdown reads like a love letter to warehouse romantics: seven production dates, eight different warehouses, aged for seven years, one month, and 20 days, and bottled at a robust 126.5 proof. The batch is anchored by 29% from the sixth floor of warehouse G at Waterfill, with smaller contributions from J, K, L, and others — each floor shaping the final profile like an unseen hand.
Booker’s “By The Pond” Batch arrives nationwide this month at $99.99 SRP. So, pour a glass somewhere quiet, maybe with a pond (or even just a puddle) in sight — and tip your hat to Booker’s big backyard dream.
For more details, visit Booker’s Bourbon’s official website.
