Baker's Single Barrel Bourbon 13 Year

Nose - Caramel, vanilla, oak, cinnamon, and red apple. That beam peanut note is lurking in the background, but it's subtle. The nose is not hot at all. Palate - First sip is thick and rich. Caramel, oak, vanilla, cinnamon and baking spices are the main players. The finish is long and rich, with brown sugar sweetness and oak spices lingering on the back palate. There's no alcohol burn at all, just a pleasant warmth. The intensity of the flavors and length of the finish is especially impressive given that this isn't a cask-strength bourbon. This limited release is a home run for Beam. The flavors are great, and not just your typical Beam/Booker's profile but something unique. I think the 107 proof works well and creates a really balanced whiskey that lets the flavors shine through. It's also a relative bargain compared to most other limited edition releases.

The best tasting baker’s I have had yet. Sweet smell and finish.

Rich, complex and sweet. Smooth and unreal.

The color is a dark amber that leaves oil clinging to the glass with every movement. The nose is light and fruity, with oak and hints of caramel with a little bit of char and caramel coming out at the end. For the age and proof, the nose is surprisingly gentle, even after letting it breathe for a while. The palate is mouth coating with oils and somewhat chewy with pepper, cinnamon, caramel apple, vanilla and a touch of butterscotch. It greatly expands on the palate. The finish is long with a lingering oaky cinnamon, while rich caramel apple and vanilla fade nicely together. It is a whiskey that tells you to take your time with it, to let it breathe and open up.

N: Getting around the alcohol takes a bit but it's fruity with an apple hint P: Carmel fruit forward that quickly escalated to a oak spice F: Hot and long. Very oaky and spicy.