Review #78 Baker's Single Barrel 107: Bourbon

Score: 8.2 / 10

Distillery: Jim Beam

Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon

One of the 4 bourbons in Jim Beam's small batch bourbon collection. Bookers leads the pack in highest proof (and is the best... of the 4 ssshh). Baker's rank's third. Also, really Jim Beam? Bakers and Bookers. New bourbon drinkers mix those two up all the time. I sure did in the beginning.

These all will have the classic "Beam Funk" that we love to talk about on the Po It Up whiskey podcast. I can't really describe it either. You'll love it or hate it, but I can promise you that you'll never know how to describe it. Baker's is ok, but I'm usually more of a fan of Knobb Creek and Bookers, the higher end and higher proof selections from this select group.

Whiskey Review:

Nose: Peanut (bursting with 'Beam funk'), vanilla, lemon zest and a light bitter dark chocolate. In the background there is an astringent damp hay scent (I can only get it by inhaling deeply)

Palate: Toasted sugar and heavy whipping cream crackle and simmer on the palate. The mouthfeel starts oily but turns effervescent as the simmering builds bringing out cinnamon, seared oak and brown sugar. Lemon and cherry remains as the heat subsides.

Finish: Very tannic and quickly dries out the mouth leaving potent oak, walnut and a smokey paprika.

Score: 8.2

Scale:

S+ Sensational - The Pinnacle (9.5+)

A - AXEceptional (astounding) (9-9.5)

B - bravo (step aBove average) (8-8.9)

C - competent (7-7.9)

D - disappointing (6-6.9)

F - flush it down the toilet (fail) (5.9 below)

Notes: Availability? Common. This is a step up from Basil Haydens, but is just as easy time find. Bookers is the only one that can be tricky to snag as distributors like to allocate this whiskey.