Baker's Single Barrel Bourbon 7 Year

The 7 year small batch is a top 5 favorite of mine, so curious as to how this compares. On the nose there is some vanilla that is immediately apparent followed by hints of caramelized apples. There is also a hint of the classic cherry note that are often found in Beam products. The palate features a lot of pepper spice and heat along with wood and some corn notes. The heat and spice carry through the finish, which is medium to long. Overall not as pleasing as the small batch as many of the baking spices are overpowered by the pepper and wood spice.

I have a hit and miss history with Beam, but something about this Baker's 7 year old single barrel spoke to me. I've only had Bookers (Center Cut from a while back), which I find to be far too hot to be enjoyable, the Knob Creek 12 which was excellent (but hard to find now), and the pointless Basil Haydens. I like where the product slots in to the Beam lineup, not only price-wise ($55), but also because it's a single barrel and the strength for me is pretty close to ideal at 107. I get that there are less expensive, higher proof Knob Creek single barrels, but I'm really not a fan of whisky above about 110 - 115. Anyway, after the Knob Creek 12 that I enjoyed, I put my eye on this Bakers which is 7 years and 3 months old. On the nose, I was a little concerned. The nose is nice, but weak - a little brown sugar, a little spice, some ethanol. But the palate is great - relatively thick, coating mouth feel. Perfect peanut, brown sugar and rye spice with an underlying fruit sweetness - not quite cherry, but close to it. Just the right amount of heat to give it flavor and substance, but not enough to be unpleasant. The finish is lingering spice with a touch of the same not-quite-cherry. Really enjoyable. I'm pleased with this purchase and will probably seek out another when it is done if Knob Creek 12 is still unavailable. That one is better than Bakers by a bit because it has a clear, delicious cherry finish and a better nose. But this is very good stuff, pretty easy to find, and the powers that be don't seem to be bumping the price like Bookers or clearing the shelves like Knob Creek 12. A good one to tide me over until I can grab another KC 12. It's also a single barrel and I do enjoy rolling the dice and maybe getting a different experience now and again.

Good stuff! Warm and sweet! Had it straight up