I’ve just finished a bottle of the older label Baker‘s that was just a small batch, not a single barrel like it is now. At 8yrs and 3 months let’s see how this new single barrel version of Baker’s compares to the sample of the old label small batch I kept for this occasion. The nose has peanut brittle (the peanuts jump out of the glass), barrel char, caramel, some dark stone fruit like a plumb, sweet vanilla and baking spices. The palate has a nice oily mouthfeel with some peanuts, sweet caramel, cherries and vanilla. The finish is long with lingering vanilla and dark fruit on the back of the palate. There’s a slow burn in the upper part of the chest. Very nice. I really like this one. I love the mixture of peanuts, sweet caramel and fruit and how they mix together for a thick oily experience. The original by comparison is less oily and has rye spice that pokes out above the other mentioned notes and seems a little subdued overall. So I have to say, at least this particular single barrel is a great improvement on an already fantastic bourbon. Way to go Beam!