Baker's Single Barrel Bourbon 7 Year

Baker’s 107 Single Barrel (1-2011, 8.5 years old). Beautiful new bottle design for the Beam higher end brand Baker’s. The release changes from a small batch to a single barrel as well. This release is 8.5 years old. Pours a lovely copper into the glass. Nose of vanilla, oak, peanut brittle. The palate hits you perfectly - some heat, but still not too hot - and has a delicate harmony of the Beam peanut character along side some sweeter notes; as you swallow toward the finish you get a rush of oak notes from the barrel almost reminiscent of a very good oaky scotch. The finish has length - peanut skin, spice. Overall a welcome refresh to this brand and a worthy addition to this segment for Beam Suntory. 92-94

Nose: sweet fruit with vanilla and orange Palate: rich full slight sweetness and baking spice Finish: medium rich with slight heat but smooth for the proof Must have on the shelf and a surprise from JimBeam

This year for the holidays I’m going to try a brand new whiskey every day in December. #lifegoals Dec. 11 I first had Bakers standard at Jim Beam. I didn’t like it at all, but I don’t remember why. I also wasn’t a huge fan of any bourbon at the time, and the only one of the machine squirts I actually enjoyed was Kathleen’s Batch. A lot has changed, and this bottle is an 8.5 year aged single barrel version. When I bought it, I honesty thought it was the one being sold all over secondary (Baker’s 13). Was a bit disappointed when I figured it out, but still intrigued. Before I bought it I asked a shelf-stocker at my honey hole if this was a noticeably different flavor profile from Bakers 7 Small Batch, and he wisely shrugged and said, “You should buy it and come back and let me know.” So here we are. The nose is floral and fresh. There’s a honeysuckle sweetness there too, and a bit of lemon. It’s a really solid nose. The flavors on the body don’t stand out as strongly as some bourbons, but I think that’s less a statement of flavor fullness and more of flavor compatibility. The lemon is there, but as it is in lemonade; no bitterness. Sweetness come mainly via a syrup note, but I can get powdered sugar instead at times. Finish is mild on flavor, but buzzes the bejesus out of your lips and back of tongue. I like that combo a lot. A slight bitterness kicks in on the backend via a sweet tea note. The one word that summarizes this drink: compatibility. It doesn’t make any crazy bold attempts, but it pulls in a lot of enjoyable notes that work together well. Just finished 2 fingers, going to go pour another 2. Very happy to have this bottle, and I will likely buy another if available once this runs out. Additionally, I would like to formally apologize to the Baker’s line for all the shade I’ve thrown over the past 1.5 years. I may have told an employee at Jim Beam that it tasted like Glenmorangie Lasanta had an unwanted lovechild with Knob Creek, and I especially apologize for that. You’ve produced something excellent here. Let’s makeup under the mistletoe. ‘Tis the season. I don’t know if I actually have 20 more new whiskeys lined up, so if you’re reading this and there’s something readily available out there you’d like me to enjoy/suffer through this holiday season, leave it in the comments.

Bottle 000186129 (WH CL-D) 8.5 years. I really like the original, and based on the sheer nonsense of decoration and words on this bottle, I fear the worst. Neat in Glencairn at home. Nose has some cherry cola, Dr. Pepper spice, vanilla, oak. Some heat coming through. Taste is more of the same, amplified by the heat. Second and third sips are more smooth, as my palate adjusts to the spice and heat. Splash of water brings out a bitterness, like birch. I just don't know about this one. I can say that I prefer the former "multi-barrel." 12/9/19

Sweet and spicy.

Neat. 8.5 year. Neck pour. Lighter on the nose than expected for the age and proof. Lots of light, bright notes. Vanilla. Apple. Only a slight hint of nuttiness. Very slight oak. Baking spice. Surprised by how little I can get from this nose. It’s opening up a bit as I sit with it. Creamy mouth feel, very smooth texture. Light on the tongue again. Powder sugar and apple. Oh there is that Beam flavor profile. Man. There is a surprising depth all the sudden. The nuttiness and oak come through kicking but fade into vanilla, caramels, strawberries, maple. Delicious legs for miles. I like it a lot. Going back to the nose I can’t believe how muted I’m the nose is and how much flavor comes on the taste. I am getting more and more from the nose as time goes on. Despite the nose, the taste is awesome.

Wanted to like more, wasn’t the best if the flight.