The Jim Beam Small Batch collection. We all know it. We all love it. I was introduced to this Kentucky fixture as
soon as I arrived to Lexington in the late 90s.
There is nothing better for a rookie in the whiskey drinking business
than a sample pack of 4 bourbons from a world famous distiller in beautiful
packaging!
There is no need to say this but I am no longer a
rookie. Not only do I drink the brown
water with friends, discuss tasting notes with my mom and dad but I also
thoroughly enjoy writing about it. All
this “tasting” can sometimes take you away from the standards which enjoy a consistent
flavor and a true following of bourbon lovers.
I like to take a step back from the newest-bottles-to-market on occasion
and re-visit the classics and marvel at the consistency and beauty of how these
whiskies are crafted.
Today we discuss 25% of the Small Batch Collection –
Baker’s. Named after Baker Beam, the
cousin of Booker – the brand’s Master Distiller. Baker’s remains a standby in the industry
while still sporting an age stamp of 7 years and rolling in at a perfect 107
proof. The mashbill of Baker’s is 73%
corn and 13% rye.
Noted for it’s consistency, smooth & silky texture and
full-bodied flavors, Baker’s tastes today as it always has. On the nose you get strong notes of citrus
accented by orange marmalade and lemon.
The aromas quickly lead to hearty flavors of ripe banana and warm
buttered bread. Drinking this bourbon is
reminiscent of cracking into a crusty loaf of fresh baked bread straight from
the oven.
The palate develops herbal notes of cardamom and
allspice. As we tasted, we noted flavors
of metal (we all taste something different) and a few comments on the
smoothness but lacking of the rich flavor of a typical 7 year bourbon.
Finally, the subtle sweetness of rye, blackberry and black
cherry form on the back of the palate leading to a soft, almost mouth numbing
finish thanks to the higher proof.
As you can tell from this article, there are multitudes of
flavors at every level of this whiskey- a true mark of a well-crafted
spirit. Each of us found different notes
to consider. This is certainly an easy
daily drinker and worth a re-visit if you haven’t had the chance in some
time.
Average Price - $40 - 49.99
