Baker's Exclusive Selection Single Barrel Bourbon

11y 8m, warehouse CL-E (Claremont, KY). Selected by/for Kroger. The packaging is impressive - similar to the annual Masters Keep packaging. The latter would be more appropriate for Thanksgiving but this should do. Wound up getting this at a local impromptu release. At around $115 my expectations are quite high. I’m hoping for a recreation of Baker’s 13… but what difference does 1y 2m make?? Light amber and relatively thin appearance. Nose at first crack is classic dusty, dusty peanuts. Vanilla frosting, oak and heat. Caramel. Baking spice medley of allspice, ginger, clove and white peppercorn. So far this reminds me a good deal of the precious Baker’s 13 year. Thin on entry with loads and loads of oak. Oak for days oak. Dry. Caraway and stuffing. Thanksgiving in a glass. I miss the cranberries though - some fruit would be nice. So would more brown sugar. Maybe I’m being too hasty. There is a certain funk about it. Not full-on Masters Keep 17y BiB, but it’s there. Dusty books. Old wooden furniture. Tannic but not quite astringent. In summary, this is not a sweet bourbon. This just doesn’t drink like a ~12 year bourbon. If I were to guess I would say 14-16. It would make no sense to label a single barrel as 11y 8m if it was actually older, so I’m guessing the age is as-stated. Maybe the entry proof and barrel location in the rick house explain the bone-dry, funky nature of this bottle? It is however definitely Beam (and drinks like a Beam 15 year product). There is a nutty undertone with slightly sour esters and it drinks, as Beam tends to, above its proof (I would have guessed 115-120). Score? I don’t really know. It defies expectations - in ways good, in other ways less good. This will turn some people off. Those expecting a brown sugar, cherry and cinnamon bomb will be unhappy. Those who favor dusty boots and wood furniture will smirk and be amused but likely fall short of pleases. Anyone who is happy with something dry and dusty, nutty and a tad hot will be exuberant. I’m frankly a bit undecided so score is preliminary. I still don’t believe this age statement.

NOSE Oak, dried dark fruit, peanut brittle, cinnamon, clove, anise, leather, chocolate covered cherries, char and a touch biscuity. Oooh, this is good. It reminds me of old Booker’s releases. PALATE Oak, dried dark fruit, peanut brittle, cinnamon, leather, char and a touch biscuity with some light notes of cocoa and black licorice. Yup, a LOT like older Booker’s releases. Yum. FINISH Long -> Oak, dried dark fruit, peanut brittle and baking spice.

Despite a 100+ proof, this expression is eminently drinkable, even straight from the bottle. With warm fruity notes laden with caramel and vanilla bean on the nose, it has a friendly approach. As with much of the Baker’s portfolio, this is a solid boubon hitting all of the usual marks of cask, mashbill and sweetness. The finish is medium-long with semi-dry and vanilla/toffee notes on the fade. A really nice product and one we recommend.

11 yr 8 mo pick. Caramel honey nose. Palate is deep coffee cake with hints of caramel. Maybe nuget? Like a 3 musketeers? Delicious

Floral honey nose, thick mouthfeel. Well aged oak and caramel palate (4.25/5) XXIK pick: 4.5/5

Hot on the nose with an allspice and chutney palate, finishes complex with an soft vanilla