The third release of the Booker’s® Bourbon 2025 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2025-03 “Jerry’s Batch.” This batch is named after Jerry Dalton, the only Master Distiller we’ve ever had at Beam who isn’t part of my family. But while he isn’t Beam by blood, he might as well be. Jerry made one hell of an impact on our distilling process. And on me. And for that I’ll always be grateful.

NOSE

Aromas of vanilla, spices

TASTE

Big and bold, and unmistakably Booker’s® Bourbon

FINISH

Long and delightful

My dad, Booker Noe, and I first met Jerry when he moved into the house behind ours after he took a job at a local distillery as a chemist. Over the years he and Dad became close friends, and Jerry eventually came to work with us at Beam, helping us deepen our understanding of distilling.

Jerry cared so deeply about our business and our bourbon, that when Dad retired, he stepped up as Master Distiller for a few years. I wasn’t quite ready for the job yet, but during that time

Jerry made it his job to see that I’d be following in Dad’s footsteps soon enough. Most of what I know about the science of our craft, I owe to Jerry.

He used to write up these tests for me every few weeks to review the chemistry I’d been learning. He’d grade them by hand and go over the answers with me to make sure I understood everything. And more importantly to make sure I was ready to keep making the best bourbon out there.

For years, I just assumed Jerry was already part of the Bourbon Hall of Fame, but he only got inducted last summer. He’s a real humble guy who never liked making too much of a fuss, but he’s damn worth celebrating. Beam wouldn’t be what it is without him, and I couldn’t be prouder to honor him with this
batch.

— Fred Noe, Beam Family 7th Generation Master Distiller