Hannah’s Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon Review
Original review written on March 9, 2021
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon Review: A very well-blended Jim Beam product that is full of wood flavor, so if that is your type, definitely give this one a try. Proves to be deep, but I wouldn’t necessarily say complex. 87/100
VITALS:
– Made in: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery
– Classification: Single Barrel Bourbon
– Age: 8 yrs. 1 mo.
– Mash Bill: Corn=77%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– Warehouse: CL-Z
– Barrel Serial Number: #000330410
– Barrel Date: 12-2011
– Non-Chill Filtered
– ABV: 53.3% (107 proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho in 2020
Visit bakersbourbon.com for more information and click here to check out your barrel’s journey: bakersbourbon.com/single-barrel-journey
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review of this bourbon here!
SETTING:
This would be a great bourbon to sit and just… think with. Stare into a fish bowl and watch the fish wander around their little enclosure and get enraptured in their colors and brightness with Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon in hand. The bourbon will bring you back to earth with its woody flavors while you get caught up in the watery dream of the fish’s world.
Photo by kazuend on Unsplash
NOSE:
I get roasted corn, subtle cloves, and prunes on the first nosing, though the aromas blend so well together, it is hard to tease them apart. Deep draws coax out more baking spices, like nutmeg and dark brown sugar. There also seems to be some molasses, caramel, and a nut of some kind. Mixed with these darker tones, is a dominant barrel char that really marries the flavors together so seamlessly. There may be some sawdust with it, but it flits in and out with the other scents.
The alcohol isn’t overly aggressive, though it is impossible to deny its presence. Overall, every time I reach to look for another aroma, I keep wanting to take a sip, because the pull on this nose is quite strong, and it certainly makes my mouth water in anticipation.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Smooth until the very back of the sip, where there is a slight tickle that could scratch at the throat if I’m not careful.
– Balance: Very well blended, but it is obvious that the oak is the hero here and doesn’t particularly want to give other flavors the opportunity to shine too brightly.
– Visual: Honey in color, there is a distinct crown with slow-dropping, thick legs that start as clinging droplets.
– Taste: Rye, roasted corn, barrel char. They punch hard on the first sip even, and are very hard for me to miss or ignore. I can get an earth/grass element as well that makes these initial flavors have another dimension. There isn’t a lot for sweetness, beyond perhaps a woody caramel and fruit leather or raisins that are gently seasoned with allspice.
The alcohol is there, but it isn’t particularly strong, and I can hold it for an extended period of time without feeling any kind of burn. I can tell very clearly in any case that this is a Jim Beam product… It comes across as a luxury, more aged, richer version of Jim Beam Devil’s Cut, with the strong oak presence being the root of both (let it be known, I like this quite a lot more than Devil’s Cut). The wood in both seems naturally chewy, as though the chips were soaked in water and have become soft.
When I partake in the Kentucky chew, white pepper, figs, and leather suddenly burst forth, with the oak tying them all together quite well.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Medium. The throat feels warm, and there is some flavor that lingers in the finish also.
– Between Sips: After the Kentucky chew, there is a strange aftertaste, though it is certainly still rooted in wood. It almost seems a little herbal, but it is not very aggressive. Without the chew, that space between sips consists of just wood chips without the herb quality.
– No More: This gets better the further into the glass I get, a dark fruit beginning to emerge – maybe the raisins. I feel as though the mouth feel improves too, which isn’t something I usually note. Where it had started as being smooth, it almost feels velvety now, as though I can go against the grain with it and find a deeper wood.
The empty Glencairn is as expected – strong oak notes that pair nicely with what was offered in the palate.
WORTH THE PRICE?
At $60, this isn’t a bad value, and I look forward to reaching for it on the shelf again. Would I spend another $60 to replace it after it’s gone? Perhaps not, as I do think there are better $60 offerings on the market. If this was $10 cheaper, I think I’d be more likely to buy again. If you like wood-forward bourbons, definitely reach for this one – it’ll be right up your alley!
RATING: 87/100
Click to see Hannah’s rating process
To access other whiskies with this rating, click 87/100.
Click to see other Baker’s whiskies.
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