Now here is our idea of a perfect Baker’s Dozen.
From the House of Beam comes the sophomore release of Baker’s 13-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon. This extra-aged, high-proof ass-kicker was originally released in 2019 when Beam transitioned the Baker’s brand from a small batch to a single barrel bottling, thus rounding out the portfolio of premium products that includes Booker’s, Basil Hayden, and Knob Creek.
What's In The Bottle?
Like the original Baker’s Bourbon, this special edition is bottled at a robust 107 proof. But the real difference comes in maturation here as the original Baker’s is aged 7 year’s and this limited bottling was aged at least an additional six. Baker’s Bourbon was initially launched in 1992 by former Master Distiller Booker Noe and named after Baker Beam, who worked at the Jim Beam Distillery for almost four decades. Baker’s 13-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon is a limited release, meaning it won’t be around long, and retails for $130.
Bonus! Bourbon nerds can take their geekery level up by entering the serial number found on the neck tag on Baker’s website’s Single Barrel Journey page. There you will become privy to information on your individual bottle like the weather, location, and maturation time, factors that inform the flavor of your whiskey. So if you’d like to explore for yourself how these elements affect the taste, buy two bottles from different barrels and examine the nuances of these elements yourself.
“We received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback the first time we released this 13-year-old edition, and I’m proud to bring it back for whiskey fans who appreciate something special from Baker’s as a true gem within our Small Batch portfolio.”
—Fred Noe, Seventh Generation Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery
How Does It Taste?
Fruit, vanilla, and caramel aromas greet the olfactory, leading to a medium-bodied palate featuring oak, toasted nuts, fruit, and plenty of vanilla. The medium-long finish is assertive thanks to the elevated ABV, but also round and warming on its way down.
Spirits writers, marketers and designers are among the most influential forces in the spirits industry. Their opinions, ideas and creative talents inform and influence consumer perceptions and buying decisions. The John Barleycorn Society was started by a group of spirits journalists seeking to honor excellence in all facets of the industry. The journalists spent several years creating a comprehensive competition that became the John Barleycorn Awards. An elite team of authoritative and influential spirits journalists was selected to administer the flagship component of the Awards, a blind tasting competition destined to become the preeminent arbitrator of spirits taste, quality and character.
