Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon Review

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

Baker's Single Barrel Bourbon Review
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– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished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:
Baker's Single Barrel Bourbon Review

– 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

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Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon

Brian’s Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon Review:

written: 09-March-2021

BAKER’S SINGLE BARREL BOURBON REVIEW:

Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon (Baker’s SiB) is a well blended and remarkable bourbon. From its warm aroma, slightly fruity taste and woody finish, in my opinion, its an improvement to its predecessor, Baker’s Small Batch Bourbon. While I’m certain other barrels will differ from the one I enjoyed during this review, I will seek others.

BAKER’S SINGLE BARREL BOURBON VITAL STATS:
Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon

Category: Single Barrel Bourbon
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Jim Beam, Master Distiller Fred Noe
Mash bill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Casks: New Charred Oak
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
Barreled: December 2011
Barrel Serial #: 000330410
Storage Warehouse: CL-Z
Time in the barrel: 8 yr, 1 Mo
Bottle Age Stated: 7 Years
Non-Chill Filtered
ABV: 53.5% (107 Proof)
Purchase Price: $59.95 USD (2020, Idaho)

Learn more at Baker’s Bourbon and click to check out your barrel’s journey.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, I shared the juice neat from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

BAKER’S SINGLE BARREL BOURBON NOSE:

At first nosing, Baker’s SiB is dry and warm with a slight ethanol aroma. But the alcohol is not enough to overpower its potpourri of herbal roasted corn and mix of dry grain. More nosing brings berries, cherries and even roasted almonds blended in a dark fruit leather spiced with powdered ginger, green pepper and rye. This pour is only slightly sweet; I get traces of vanilla, brown sugar, buttery caramel and nutty toffee. However, most dominate is wood. I smell dry, heavy, old oak and hazy barrel flavors.

BAKER’S SINGLE BARREL BOURBON PALATE:

The first sip of this Baker’s SiB pour is easy to hold, yet there is a definite tickle on the tip of the tongue. I also get warmth, which almost grows to a burn, but for me the 53.5% ABV isn’t enough to cause discomfort. And as sensed on the nose, I get herbal roasted corn and dried grain hiding a hint of both maraschino and dark cherries rolled in fresh raisin fruit leather as spices of cinnamon, ginger, black pepper and rye blend with sweets of light vanilla, brown sugar, woody burnt caramel and toasted almond toffee. This is a wood forward bourbon with elements of dry, heavy, old oak and plenty of hazy barrel char spice.

Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Well blended aromas and flavors fade in and out of each Baker’s SiB waft and mouthful. The liquid is full bodied and has a soft, oily mouthfeel. Each tip of the glass allows the dark honey colored liquid to fall in fat clinging legs to leave behind an irregular crown.

BAKER’S SINGLE BARREL BOURBON FINISH:

Baker’s SiB has a nice effervescent tickle in its medium-long, throat warming finish. The potpourri and herbal notes from the nose and palate pass through as does the dried dark fruit leather as spices of cinnamon, clove, ginger, black pepper and rye dominate the sweets of light vanilla and woody caramel. And as found in the aroma and taste dry, heavy, old oak dances with the hazy spice of barrel flavors. What I enjoy most about this pour is the sensation in my throat of Montmorency cherry juice as each sip passes. When the last dram is downed, a faint memory of dry old oak wafts from the empty Glencairn.

MY BAKER’S SINGLE BARREL BOURBON RATING: 90/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
I look forward to finding other Baker’s Single Barrel releases.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

To access other whiskies with this score, click 90/100.
Click to see other Baker’s whiskies.

BAKER’S SINGLE BARREL BOURBON TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon
Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon

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