ONE MALT TO RULE THEM ALL IN AND IN WHISKY BIND THEM.
HINTS OF SMOKED ALMOND AND HONEY ON THE NOSE. THE TEXTURE AND FLAVORS ARE REMINISCENT OF A PERFECTLY CRAFTED CAPPUCCINO, SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE WITH A SUBTLE SMOKE FROM CHERRY WOOD AND OAK. RESIDUAL FLAVORS OF BOURBON AND RYE ROUND OUT THIS SOFT SMOOTH DRAM. 100% MALTED BARLEY. SMOKED WITH CHERRY WOOD RATHER THAN PEAT. ONLY 500-600 BOTTLES RELEASED ANNUALLY WORLDWIDE.
What Gary Says
Nose: Malt, exotic wood notes of sandalwood and cedar, cocoa, cherries, roasted corn and almonds. Palate: Rich mouthfeel, sweet with cherries and chocolate, bit of spice with apple and nutmeg. Finish: Moderately long with honey and cherries. Comments: I really like the funky wood notes on the nose – reminds me a bit of the aroma when you’re cutting different types of woods at a table saw. Not as complex as the Westward American Single Malt, but maybe more intense for what it does offer. I look to be in the minority with liking this one (saw several reviews where folks were left unimpressed or disappointed), but I like what I like. Similar struggles with the pricing on this, but if you’re a whiskey geek looking for different experiences, this does offer that (although contrary to what Arby’s might have you believe, different isn’t always good).
Single Malt, reimagined. Born of the unique culture, climate and abundant resources of the Northwest, this elevated American original demonstrates our craftsmanship and creativity. Our distinct, rich, and brazen American Single Malt — the pinnacle of whiskey. Created from locally malted barley, brewed with ale yeast for exceptional flavor, and matured to perfection in new, lightly charred American Oak barrels right here in Oregon, where our hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters are the ideal environment to raise a world class whiskey.
What Gary Says
Nose: Barley malt, vanilla crème brûlée fresh from the oven, allspice, butterscotch, banana, apricot and walnuts. Palate: Rich mouthfeel, fruity with pears, peaches and bananas, cinnamon, honey, chili spice gives way to butterscotch and malted milk chocolate. Finish: Moderately long and damp, with honey and subtle spice notes. Comments: A nice dram that runs the gambit from fruity to spicy. Quite different from a ‘single malt’ Scotch for more reasons than I’ll try to list here. The more I tried this, the more I liked it (and I don’t mean in a single sitting). Initially I was less impressed, but the more time I spent with it – found it sneakily complex. Now the price point makes it tough, as there are plenty of whiskies at this price point I enjoy much more – but I’d look at it like being an early adopter of sorts. Part of the challenge is that there isn’t a huge distiller doing single malt at scale, so when you have smaller distilleries you’ll have more expensive whiskey. I haven’t bought much American single malt, but can see that changing in the future.
Baker’s 7 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Serial No. 000185720 Warehouse CL-O (or CL-D) Date Barreled: 01-2011 Barrel Age: 8 Years, 6 Months
53.5% ABV $60 Website We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.
What the Distillery Says
Every bottle, as unique as the man it’s named for From still to rickhouse to bottle, a lot of things happen with Baker’s® Single Barrel Bourbon. Weather, length of aging and rickhouse placement all shape the distinct notes and flavors of each barrel. See how and where your bottle was born.
Taste the difference between floor 5, rack 17 & floor 7, rack 21 \No two barrels of Baker’s are the same. Each is as unique as the man the bourbon is named for. Each barrel sits in its own unique place throughout our rickhouses, patiently aging for a minimum of seven years to extract the notes of vanilla trapped within the charred oak.
And with Baker’s there’s no batching or mixing. Each bottle is filled from one singular barrel. Which means inside each bottle is a big, bold bourbon, full of tiny subtle details that change barrel to barrel.
Every family has a rebel. Ours is baker. He may be soft-spoken, but Jim Beam’s grand-nephew marched to his own drum. In his heyday, Baker would show up for work at the Clermont distillery on his motorcycle, wearing a black leather jacket and his wide-brimmed hat. When this sixth-generation distiller retired, his cousin Booker Noe created Baker’s Bourbon in his honor, inspired by his passion for bourbon and maverick nature.
Pull up a glass There’s no wrong way to drink Baker’s – whether it’s neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail, you’ll notice strong, traditional bourbon cues, like oak, caramel and vanilla. Bottled at 107 proof, the flavors inside each single barrel really shine through. This full-bodied bourbon really stands out in any cocktail.
What Gary Says
Nose: Salted caramel, vanilla, charred oak, cocoa, bit of anise and clove. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, pepper, peanut brittle with a bit of honey, followed by anise. Finish: Moderate in length, drying with caramel and oak. Comments: I tried this sample side by side with an older Baker’s 7 yr Small Batch (bought in 2019). In late 2019 Beam Suntory announced the change for the Baker’s brand, shifting from a small batch to a single barrel (including a 7 year – same age as the former small batch; and a 13 year). I was a fan of Bakers, with the age and proof hitting my sweet spots (although I wouldn’t have turned my nose up at a barrel proof version!) so was curious how the single barrel variety fared. As a single barrel, there is more variation – and their website actually highlights this point since you can key in your barrel number to get the barrel details. As a geek, I really like that, although I would recommend they put some of those details on the bottle itself. They do give you the age and warehouse, but not the floor/rack on the label. If I’m in the store, having to plug each serial number into the web-site to see which floor and rack the barrel was at (as their site recommends) is more effort than most consumers are going to put into it. Adding those few details to the bottle would be a big plus, and frankly – I’d still go to the web-site when I got home for the other info. The sample I received incidentally was aged on Floor 5, Rack 47 for those keeping score at home. But back to the bourbon – I found the sample I received to be incredibly similar to the small batch, which isn’t a big surprise. That’s good, since I’ve been a fan of the other, but if you’re expecting the single barrel to be wildly different, you may be disappointed (or may not).
From Islay’s most famous distillery, this lively and clean expression of what was for whiskey writer, Michael Jackson, “Islay’s most complex malt” combines the anticipated Lagavulin smoky intensity with gentle, fresh aromas and a delicious toffee and fruit sweetness. Add water and those clean scents are softer, accompanied now by a subtle interplay of mint and wood smoke. On the palate it’s intense, sweet and oily, with lime zest wreathed in wood smoke, while when water is added it’s like eating a slice of rich fruit-cake near a wood stove. Tasted neat, the finish is long and warming, with sweet wood smoke. With water it has a delicate sweetness, with fresh-cut pine and autumn smoke. This is a Lagavulin free from worries, with a lighter spring in its step.
What Gary Says
Nose: Briny, smoky peat, sea air, earthy, bit of grilled lemons. Palate: Dry, malty sweetness with peat, bit of unsweetened lemonade, vegetal notes with sea salt and roasted pine nuts. Finish: Long and drying with honey, peat and sea salt. Comments: Lagavulin wears the higher ABV well (not that this is a shock, as I can’t think of any whiskey I wouldn’t enjoy at CS over a 4x% bottling). This is significantly lighter in color than the standard bearer 16 yr which I tried side-by-side. A similar nose to the classic 16 yr, with a bit more citrus neat. Palate is intense, and a bit thicker mouthfeel. Not sure I’d say I like this better – it is a bit different, more intensity but a bit less complexity. The premium price would be a turn off for me – as it can be double the price of the 16 yr which I think is insane.
Lagavulin is one of the most legendary single malt brands and has been crafted on the shores of Islay for more than 200 years – mirroring the meticulous calculation and tenacity employed by the Lannisters in their rise to conquer the Iron Throne. This single malt whisky is a roaring single malt that recalls the Lannister’s riches.
TASTING NOTES APPEARANCE: Light, golden colour. NOSE: The nose is characteristically Lagavulin with the sweet smoke that explodes on the nose with a little more brine than the other expressions. PALATE: The palate opens with smoked caramelized banana and heavy vanilla and burnt marshmallow. which subside into a light, dry, slightly salted caramel.
What Gary Says
Nose: Peaty with freshly shoveled earth, creosote, smokey sea air, grilled peaches and smoked pork roast. Palate: Viscous mouthfeel with sweet vanilla, subtle fruit, smoked brisket, hints of lemon and anise with a salty note. Finish: Moderately long and drying with sea smoke and peat. Comments: Really solid Lagavulin offering. Nothing off-putting, and I’ve seen some folks trying to move this for under $30 – and I would consider it a ‘Must Buy’ at that price (at least one to try if you haven’t). At the suggested retail around $50, it is still pretty solid.
