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Booker’s vs Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Booker’s and Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an uncut, rye-forward heavyweight versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Booker’s | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 7 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 125 proof (62.5% ABV) +25 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $110 | ~$85 – $100 ~$5 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Booker’s and Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Booker’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Booker’s Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 10/5 heat: Booker’s 10 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10
fruit 4/8 fruit: Booker’s 4 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10
nuttiness 8/5 nuttiness: Booker’s 8 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Booker’s 7 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Booker’s 8 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Booker’s 7 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Booker’s: Uncut, unfiltered Beam at batch strength, and the most concentrated expression of the house peanut-and-oak character. Enormous and hot, with a finish that goes on well past where you expect it to stop.
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon: Finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and Cognac casks. The casks layer dried fruit, orange and dark chocolate over the bourbon and leave a long, clove-spiced finish.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Booker’s if you want the Beam house style at full power and you have water on the table with significantly more proof behind it.
- Go with Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Booker’s); neat (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon).