Baker’s 7 Year Single Barrel Bourbon is one of four bourbons that make up Jim Beam’s Small Batch Collection. The others are Basil Hayden, Knob Creek and Booker’s Bourbon.
According to the bottle, “I spent a good deal of my life up at the Clermont, KY Distillery. For a time, I even lived in a house right there on the grounds. This land has been home to Jim Beam Spirits for nearly a hundred years. Now, we make our special small batch bourbon here, too, carrying on the legacy of fine, handmade bourbon that’s been a part of this family for seven generation’s. I’m proud to have my name on a piece of that legacy, a single barrel bourbon good enough to drink neat.” – signed Baker Beam. Baker Beam is the grand-nephew of Jim Beam.
According to the website, “No two barrels of Baker’s are the same. Each is as unique as the man the bourbon is named for. Each barrel sits in its own unique place throughout our rickhouses, patiently aging for a minimum of seven years to extract the notes of vanilla trapped within the charred oak. And with Baker’s there’s no batching or mixing. Each bottle is filled from one singular barrel. Which means inside each bottle is a big, bold bourbon, full of tiny subtle details that change barrel to barrel.”
Borrowing a page out of Blanton’s the Baker’s has a 4 different caps which is a nice detail to the beautiful bottling.
Bourbon Review: Baker’s 7 Year Single Barrel
ABV: 53.5% (107 Proof)
Age: 7 years 10 months (Age Varies by Release)
Date Barreled: 03-2015
Warehouse: CL-J
Serial No.: 000203837
Mash Bill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Distillery: James B. Beam Distilling Co.
Location: Claremont, KY
The Nose: Just pouring the glass for review I can smell the cinnamon wafting upward as I take the picture. Lifting the glass to the nose reveals nuances of vanilla and caramel with a subtle oak on the back end.
The Taste: The front end offered a wonderful sweetness on the first sip by a powerhouse of heat on the backend that roared from my nostrils eliciting a sneeze. The sweetness can be defined as caramel with a touch of vanilla. While the backend of the sip showcases notes of rye and peppercorns. It’s an excitingly tastestful transition between the two. Subsequent sips see touch of molasses and corn giving the bourbon a syrupy feel.
The Finish: Lingering for a nice amount of time the finish serves up a subtle but quickly fading vanilla that reveals nuttiness, oak and a touch of cinnamon. The 107 Proof is on display with a nice warming sensation that I wouldn’t label as hot.
Conclusion: The nose of the Baker’s 7 Year Single Barrel hid the proof so well that it caught me off guard especially given the front end of the first sip. The result is a uniquely flavorful aged single barrel bourbon that gives you an amazing balance of flavor and strength. The 107 is a nice entry to single barrel bourbons with many of them coming in at a higher proof making this an exquisite pour that new and seasoned bourbon drinkers can enjoy.
I do have one grip however as the website states, “Taste the difference between Floor 5, Rack 17 & Floor 7, Rack 21” and as a result it would of been a nice touch to include this information on the bottle.
Score: 95
Price: $69.99 (750ml)
