Distillery: Jim Beam
Proof: 107
Age: At least 7 years, varies by bottle (the bottle we reviewed was 8 years, 1 month)
Mashbill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Price: ~$60
Company
Since 1795, seven generations of the Beam family have been involved in making whiskey. Along with the iconic Jim Beam line, the distillery is also responsible for brands like Knob Creek, Baker’s, Basil Hayden’s, and Bookers.
Production
Baker’s single barrel came onto the scene in October 2019 after the brand previously sold as a small batch bourbon. The brand gets its name from Baker Beam, grandnephew of Jim Beam.
Nose – 91/100
Somewhat subdued and approachable with hints of deep caramel, rye spice, nuts, and licorice.
Palate – 94/100
An initial blast of spice that was somewhat hidden by the nose, followed by brown sugar, oak, and vanilla. This is bold, but not too bold—making for a very enjoyable ”Beam” experience.
Finish – 93/100
Sweet and satisfying medium-length finish with notes of vanilla, rye, and nuts. Perfectly rounds out the sip.
Value – 95/100
At $60, it’s hard to find something that can beat Baker’s—you get a well-aged single barrel Beam bourbon that’s sweet and rich without being overpowering. In my opinion, it’s better than just about any $50 bottle you can buy and can stand toe-to-toe with most $100+ bottles.
Verdict – 93.25/100
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 95+
- Gold – 90 – 94
- Silver – 80 – 89
- Bronze – <80
Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.