Nobody Is Drinking One of Jim Beam's Best Bourbons (Still)

[Celerity]

Baker's Bourbon came back from a study abroad trip with renewed purpose (and abs). Here's hoping nobody notices.

https://www.gearpatrol.com/food/drinks/a35268367/bakers-bourbon/

Welcome to Shelf Sleepers, our semi-regular guide to the best booze nobody is buying. This time: Baker's Bourbon, the whiskey embodiment of a post-high-school glow up.



Near the end of 2019, I suggested Baker's Bourbon — a spirit few people knew, despite its acclaimed family — was about to become a whiskey darling. Being a part of most major bourbon discussion places online, I can tell you that has not happened (Google isn't reporting increased search traffic around the bottle, either). While this may not be good news for the folks at Jim Beam, it's good for me.

Baker's Bourbon was once the redheaded stepchild of the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection. Basil Hayden's unique bottle design and low proof have lend it popularity as a gift and for those who are just getting into premium bourbon. The polar opposite, Booker's is a heavyweight bourbon, often clocking in north of 130 proof; it's earned a healthy reputation with veteran whiskey drinkers. And then there's Knob Creek, which is perhaps the best value bourbon in America. Until late 2019, Baker's was a small batch bourbon like all the rest, but priced and proofed so awkwardly most shoppers couldn't tell who it was really for.

New Baker's is about $60, 107 proof, at least 7 years old (most bottles I've found are closer to 9) and a single barrel product. Depending on how you look at it, that makes it a juiced-up Knob Creek with a chance to be something special or an easier-drinking Booker's that's appreciably more affordable. Because it's a single barrel product, pinning down consistent profiles isn't easy, but the three bottles I've rushed through generally offer a blend of nutty spiciness and a fair helping of vanilla and oak. That said, the order in which those flavors appear changed from one bottle to the next, and a final bottle shared with my dad over the holidays was closer to anise-infused maple syrup than bourbon. Fanfare is minimal for now, apart from some notable whiskey reviewers and bloggers giving the new and improved Baker's high marks. For the sake of my wallet, I hope it stays that way.

snip

[jimfields33]

1. I would predict yes

Why else would he announce retirement so soon. He could easily waited until summer.

[Celerity]

6. ?

TIA

[jimfields33]

12. Wow. I have no idea how this happened.

I was answering a reply to a question if the Ohio senator porter was going to vote yes. Sorry I interrupted this thread. Totally stumped at what I did.

[Celerity]

13. No problem, not at all, cheers!

[Cirque du So-What]

2. I can vouch for its quality , and I'm not typically a bourbon guy

This endorsement comes with my own caveat, which I dispense to anyone who’ll listen: after three drinks, nobody is a connoisseur. That applies to beer, wine, and distilled spirits.

[Hoyt]

3. Haven't tried Baker's lately, but the best Beam products IMO are:

Booker's
Basil Hayden's (although a little low in proof)
Knob Creek (especially the higher proof offerings)

In recent years, Bourbon lovers have bid up the price of so many good bourbons. Great stuff that was $25 a bottle 10 years ago can't be found in stores at retail price. You have to pay $200 or more a bottle. No thanks.

[Turin_C3PO]

9. When I drink whiskey, I like Knob Creek.

I also like Wild Turkey. The one I don’t really care for is Jack Daniels.

[Hoyt]

10. Yeah, I think Jack Daniels is designed for teenagers to mix with Coke (the soda).

[bottomofthehill]

4. My 2 cents

Jim Beam at 20 dollars a bottle is as good a bourbon as there is. I enjoy it, and although you can spend a lot more I don’t really see the pleasure vrs reward. There are a lot of cheap bourbons that are noticeably not as good as their expensive counterparts, but Beam is pretty damn good and at 20 bucks a liter the best bang for your buck out there.

[dchill]

5. Agreed.

[brush]

7. How are Maker's Mark Wild Turkey rated?

[Celerity]

8. it is all subjective, but here are a couple of ratings

https://www.whiskyadvocate.com/ratings-reviews/?search=&submit=+&brand_id=223&rating=0&price=0&category=0&styles_id=0&issue_id=0





Maker's Mark vs
Maker's Mark Cask Strength

https://www.thewhiskeyshelf.com/makers-mark-csc/

[getagrip_already]

11. At $60/quart...

That is a pretty rare price. Makers is half that. Other boutique brands are also less by half.

That probably has a lot to do with it staying on the shelf.

Not many people can afford that kind of luxury. And many that can simply chose not to.

[Celerity]

14. Makers Mark Cask Strength is roughly the same price as Baker's, MM CS is a fair comparison,

not the basic MM.

The one good thing about the US is that you can shop around for a great price on anything. Here in Sweden, unless you order off the internet (which we do) there is one price, whatever Systembolaget (our state alcohol monopoly) charges. Sometimes though, the prices for things are superb, far under what many places in the US or elsewhere charge.

Brexit has FUCKED up the price of scotch here, grrrr.

one tiny example on basic single malts

The Macallan
Double Cask 12 Years

and

The Macallan
Sherry Oak Cask 12 Years

were, for years, 399kr and 449kr respectively (around 38 to 50 usd, depending on the FOREX rate)

now they are 489kr and 549kr respectively, pure tax add-on



and then the killer is on my main higher end (we us the Macallan for mixers mostly) scotch

The Balvenie
Portwood 21 Years

was, for ages, 1295kr (125 to 145 usd or so, depending on exchange rate) which is FAR below the average US price (around 200 to 240 USD, but you can find it for as low as 170, 180 USD)

NOW it is 500kr MORE (atm that is around 60 usd more per bottle, as the US dollar is shit versus most currencies)

(literally overnight, ffs, once Brexit hit)

https://www.systembolaget.se/produkt/sprit/the-balvenie-8555301/