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Booker’s vs Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Put Booker’s next to Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B and you have an uncut, high-rye heavyweight set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Booker’s | Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 7 years | 12 years +5 yr |
| Proof | 125 proof (62.5% ABV) +35 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $110 ~$438 less | ~$170 – $900 |
| Availability | Limited easier to find | Allocated |
- Booker’s and Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Booker’s Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 10/3 heat: Booker’s 10 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
nuttiness 8/3 nuttiness: Booker’s 8 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
spice 7/3 spice: Booker’s 7 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Booker’s 8 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Booker’s 7 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 8 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Booker’s 4 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B: Twelve-year wheated bourbon from the Van Winkle line. Soft and balanced, with butterscotch, toffee and caramel and a gentle, 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 at a significantly lower price point and with significantly more proof behind it.
- Go with Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B if you want a soft, balanced, 12-year wheater from the Van Winkle line with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat (Booker’s); neat (Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B).