The Perfect Fall Whiskey Finally Exists

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links. Here’s how we test products and why you should trust us.Michael Carnevale3 min readI hate to be that millennial, but like many of my generational brethren, I’m an absolute sucker for autumn. The summer heat tapers off. We can wear sweaters again. Greens are out; oranges and reds and yellows are in. And apple picking—I’m one of the few proud early-30s dudes without kids who’s totally down to pay to pick his own produce. All that’s to say, I love fall, and the absolute best part about it is that it’s the official start of whiskey season.You can certainly enjoy whiskey year-round, but to me, it’s more appealing to sip a warming oak-forward spirit on a cool, breezy night than on a sweaty summer day. Which is why I was excited to find out that one of my favorite whiskey brands, Booker’s, has released a special-edition rye whiskey that’s engineered for autumn.Booker’s is distilled by James B. Beam Distilling Company in Clermont, Kentucky. It’s the distillery’s small-batch label. That means, unlike the typical Jim Beam bottle, each Booker’s release is pulled from a special selection of casks and bottled at barrel proof, so it’s really strong, really flavorful, and really limited.Booker’s typically drops four specialty whiskeys per year, and once a particular run of bottles is gone, it’s gone for good. In 2024, the brand announced an even rarer annual release called The Reserves, helmed by Fred Noe, the seventh-generation master distiller from the Beam family, in homage to his grandfather Frederick “Booker” Noe II. And here we come to the perfect fall whiskey in question: Booker’s The Reserves 2026.Each Booker’s bottle comes with a story, usually tied to family history. This one is no different, and the tale behind the whole thing informs the flavor of the liquid inside. As Fred Noe writes in his master distiller’s notes:“In our family, early winter marked the beginning of a tradition: When my grandaddy began decanting his annual batch of apple wine to share with friends and family through the season. He called it his ‘A.B.C. wassail,’ named for its main ingredients: Apples, bourbon barrels, and cinnamon. This release is a very Reserves take on his recipe. A robust rye whiskey . . . aged in apple brandy casks with some cinnamon sticks added for character. You might call it more of an A.R.C. not-quite wassail now.”Wassail is a type of hot, spiced punch traditionally served around Christmastime. But something about apples and cinnamon feels so much more autumn, which is perhaps why the brand has decided to release the bottle today, September 15.And, if you can believe it, the whiskey itself exceeds Noe’s lofty description. When I pour the spirit into a glass, my eyes meet a deep, rich auburn. I swirl that glass and whiffs of apple, caramel, and oak practically leap out. Of course, I’m enticed to sip, and when I do, I taste rich oak and caramel and cinnamon as the apple flavors vanish for a few seconds. After I swallow, that apple comes roaring back, melding with the cinnamon and caramel to remind me of the flavor of those bright green lollipops I used to grab by the fistful from a big bowl at the bank as a kid while my mom was depositing a check or taking out cash. As the flavor slowly fades, the nostalgia sticks around, and I inevitably take another sip.Now, because of its strength—this bad boy is 125.1 proof, which is much higher than rye whiskey’s lower limit of 80—you might be inclined to mix such a spirit with hot apple cider or that aforementioned Trader Joe’s tea to soften it a bit. I bet it’d be delicious. But if you see this thing on the shelf at your local liquor store and shell out the requisite $130, you owe it to yourself to try it the way it was intended: neat. Then, as recommended by Booker’s, maybe add a drop of water to open up the flavor.Once you’ve done that, drink it as you wish. And when you do, think about where we all were six years ago when this spirit was put into barrels to age: Mired in COVID-19 lockdowns, stuck inside, missing out on our favorite fall activities. I’m thankful to have this whiskey now, at a time when I can invite some friends over on a brisk Sunday, flick on a football game, and pour a few rounds of this stuff for the gang. That feels a little more appropriate than bringing a flask to the apple orchard.